Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Independence Day 4th July

Tomorrow, the 4th July, in America is Independence Day.
May all have a great and safe Holiday.

Independence Day also known as 4th of July is the birthday of the United States of America. It is celebrated on July 4th each year in the United States. It is the anniversary of the day on which the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress - July 4, 1776. The day they announced to the world that the 13 colonies no longer belonged to Great Britain. Independence Day was first observed in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776.

On July 4, 1777, the night sky of Philadelphia lit up with the blaze of bonfires. Candles illuminated the windows of houses and public buildings. Church bells rang out load, and cannons were shot from ships breaking the silence. The city was celebrating the first anniversary of the founding of the United States.



The Liberty Bell






The Liberty Bell represents America's freedom. The Liberty Bell is located at the Liberty Bell Pavilion on Market Street between 5th and 6th Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was cast in London and was made of 70% copper, 25% tin, and small amounts of lead, zinc, arsenic, gold and silver. Written on the bell are the words, "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof". The Liberty Bell cracked the first time it was rung. It was repaired in 1846, and cracked again. The bell has not been rung since.

The Eagle


In 1787, the newly formed United States adopted as its emblem a bald Eagle with wings that are outspread. The Eagle is shown with a shield on its breast, an olive branch in one foot, and a sheaf of arrows in the other foot. When the Eagle is placed on the American coat-of-arms it carries a scroll in its beak bearing the Latin words E Pluribus Unum, meaning one out of many.

The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence is a document written by our Founding Fathers declaring America's independence. A committee of five men, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston were appointed to write the document.The first draft of the Declaration was written by Jefferson, in seclusion. He spent several days writing it. John Adams was the first person to revise the document, followed by Benjamin Franklin, and finally by the full Congressional Committee. It was altered a total of 47 times before independence was declared. Independence was declared on July 2, 1776, and 39 more revisions to the document followed. John Hancock was the first signer of the Declaration of Independence, on July 4, 1776. The Declaration of Independence is on display at the National Archives




The Statue of Liberty



The large copper statue that stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor is a rememberance of our Nations FREEDOM

France gave the statue to America in 1884 as a symbol of friendship and of the liberty that citizens enjoy under a free form of government. The statues proper name is Liberty Enlightening the World.

The statue represents a proud woman, dressed in a loose robe that falls in graceful folds to the top of the pedestal on which the statue stands. The right arm holds a great torch raised high in the air. The left arm grasps a tablet bearing the date of the Declaration of Independence. A crown with huge spikes, like sun rays, rest on her head. At her feet is a broken shackle, which symbolizes the overthrow of tyranny.



The Men Who Signed the Declaration of Independence

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died.
Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.
Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army, another had two sons captured.
Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.
They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

6 comments:

Peter said...

Hi Wazza, just got here in time its
11.25 pm, wouldn't want to arrive on the 5th.
The American readers should appreciate an Aussie blogging about their day.

Jim said...

Thank you for doing all that, Warren. I learned some things and enjoyed even the things I knew very well.
Did you go up in the statue? Back in 1960 I went up, when we came back in 2003 it was still closed off. Partly because of 9/11 and partly for remodeling.

When we were in Colmar, France, in 2004, they had just erected their own Statue of Liberty. This statue is of the French and the United States friendship.
"The ‘real’ Miss Liberty is a statue, but far more than that she is also an American emblem, and a world symbol of man’s hope for a life of liberty and peace, and is one of the most famous and meaningful landmarks in the world. This copy is also doubly important, as a symbol and as a commemoration to a great man. Amid great pomp and ceremony, the 12 meter-high statuesque green lady in Colmar was officially recognized, with everyone’s hope that the liberty flame will continue to burn brightly, and that this symbol of French and American friendship will continue to bring the two countries together."
More at:
http://www.franceforfreebooters.com/parksmuseums/Statlib.htm
..

Puss-in-Boots said...

Hi Warren

What a well researched post on Independence Day...most informative.

I hope you've got over the trauma of having Peter stay with you and that things are back to normal again...heheh!

I had a lovely time on Sunday and it was lovely meeting you.

Take care

Robyn

Merle said...

Hi Warren ~~ Great post for 4th July
You always research things so well
and decorated the post. Well done.
This post looks very attractive. Wish I was that smart. Take care, Warren
Regards, Merle.

Lee said...

Good post, Wazza. And a very interesting one too. Have yourself a great weekend. :)

JunieRose2005 said...

Thanks Warren,

Very nice of you to research our July 4th. holiday so well.

Junie