editorial3@thomastontimes.com

This year, July 4 will mark the 233rd anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of a nation. Often times, it is thought of as just a holiday to get together with family and friends, enjoy a picnic, a parade and watch fireworks, but it stands for so much more than that.

It is a time to remember and celebrate the Founding Fathers for the courage they displayed in their pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. It is because of their actions and those who have fought for this nation since then, that Americans are able to enjoy a life with many freedoms including freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of the press.

Billy Johnston, a local Vietnam veteran, said the holiday means a time of remembrance. “To me it doesn’t mean cooking hotdogs and hamburgers and barbecuing or traveling. It is a time to remember our fallen heros. I always stop and think about all of those people who didn’t make it back.”

Over the last two centuries, hundreds of thousands of Americans have fought to protect this country and its freedoms. Time should be taken to remember and honor the men and women, both living and deceased, who have served. It is to them that deepest gratitude is owed, for without their sacrifices life would not be what is today.

However, celebration of the nation’s birthday is still appropriate. According to James R. Heintze of the American University in Washington D.C., John Adams, the second President of the United States, wrote a letter to his wife Abigail on July 3, 1776 stating what he thought about celebrating the Fourth of July.

“It will be the most memorable epochal, 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 solem acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be celebrated 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. You will think me transported with enthusiasm, but I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration and support and defend these states. Yet through the gloom I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is more than worth all the means.” (The Book of Abigail and John: Selected Letters of the Adams Family, 1762-1784).

The Fourth of July did not become an official federal holiday until 1941, but as it is evident in the letter Adams wrote, people have been celebrating America’s independence since it was first declaredThe stars and stripes of the American flag are one of the most recognizable symbols of the nation and more flags are displayed on the Fourth of July than at any other time of the year.

Each star stands for a state and the stripes represent the original 13 colonies, but many people do not know why the colors of red, white and blue were chosen to represent the country. The Continental Congress provided no definent answer to this question when they chose the colors, but it is thought that the colors mean the same as they do for the Great Seal of the United States which the Congress of the Confederation chose in 1782.

Each color represents a different set of values. Red stands for hardiness and valor, white means purity and innocence and blue is for vigilance, perseverance and justice. Seperately, the colors do not mean much, but together they represent the United States, its government and policies as well as the ideaology and set of ideas the country was founded upon.