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Happy Independence Day!
July 4, 2016
Many will celebrate with fireworks our Independence Day, the “illuminations” that Mr. Adams refers to. We owe much of our current celebrations of Independence Day due to the vision of John Adams of Massachusetts.
“The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.” John Adams, July 3rd, 1776 in a letter to his wife, Abigail Adams.
Of course we today celebrate not on the 2nd of July when the Declaration was ratified by Congress, but on the 4th of July when the Declaration was first read to the Army in the field.