Declaring Independence

Independence Hall

Today we "arrived" at  Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to celebrate our country's Declaration of Independence from England.  Over 200 years ago, these words were read:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

This declaration was only the beginning of our struggle for freedom.  The war for independence continued on for seven years and by the power of God we were able to endure great hardships and establish ourselves as a free nation.  (We'll be spending the rest of the week following that path to independence.)

On Sunday we were singing The Star Spangled Banner and both Shem and I were near tears.  The sacrifice and the honor that was required to establish our country is overwhelming.  Even though the Star Spangled Banner was penned during the War of 1812, the visual is still fitting for the scenes of the Revolutionary War when all odds were against us and we continued to press forward to victory. 

"Just before an attack by the British in 1812, the American soldiers raised the United Stated flag over their fort. Not far away, Francis Scott Key, an American poet and lawyer, watched the battle. Following a British attack during the night, Key looked through the morning sky for the United States flag. When he saw it still waving over the fort, he knew the Americans had won, and he began writing the words to 'The Star Spangled Banner'." http://www.salem.k12.va.us/south/america/banner.htm

The power of the second verse always gets me.

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Today we celebrated our freedom with a family barbecue and then tonight we watch the Sugarhouse fireworks. 

A friend commented on Sunday that for most of us the loud bangs of fireworks are a joyful sound, but this is because we have not lived in a war torn country where such blasts would mean death, pain, and destruction.  I am grateful to live in a country where I can celebrate the fact that I have always known safety and prosperity.  I hope our country will always celebrate the great heritage that we have and remember how vital it is live knowing that it is "In God We Trust."