Independence Day is here, with planned celebrations and family outings. I wondered if our young ones knew what this day really meant, so I asked two of my great-grandchildren.
July slipped into our hills with very little fanfare, replacing June and bringing more summertime weather. Midsummer flowers are already blooming, with the orange blaze of butterfly weed (or pleurisy weed) brightening the meadows. The pure blue of chicory appears along the roadsides, interspersed with bright orange day lilies. It is hard to believe that our year is half gone.
Country gardeners are enjoying the first crops of the season: tender yellow squash, crisp cucumbers, bright green broccoli, new potatoes, Brussels sprouts, creamy cauliflower and other fresh vegetables. It has always been a source of pride to have fresh green beans by the Fourth of July, and we almost made it this year. We have to give credit to our son-in-law Bob, who is a marvelous gardener and produces enormous amounts of vegetables.
Independence Day is here, with planned celebrations and family outings. I wondered if our young ones knew what this day really meant, so I asked two of my great-grandchildren. Hunter is almost 6, so his mind was on fireworks - and his birthday, which is the day before. Molly, age 10, is more knowledgeable and answered, "Well, it's when we were owned by England, and we got our freedom." I guess that's about it in a nutshell.
When I was the age of Hunter, the Fourth of July meant picnicking on Big Laurel Creek, with fried chicken, lemonade and watermelon. Of course we went in swimming and enjoyed the clean, cool waters of Big Laurel. I saw my first fireworks display when I was about 16, visiting my cousin Bobby when they lived at Lake Chaweva. It was a wondrous sight to me, with fireworks forming the American flag and other patterns.
Now we realize that Independence Day is more than an opportunity for families to get together to enjoy the barbecues, picnics and fireworks displays. It is an annual celebration to commemorate the courage and faith of our Founding Fathers in their pursuit of freedom. Sacrifices were made by courageous leaders who, at great personal risk, struggled to unite a young nation.
The Declaration of Independence states, "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." These memorable words were penned by Thomas Jefferson at the age of 33, and laid the cornerstone of the United States of America.
This decision was not undertaken rashly. During the years leading up to the Revolutionary War, most colonists had no thought of separation from their homeland, but they grew increasingly alienated by unjust treatment by England and the king. The adoption of the Declaration of Independence took place against the backdrop of increasing Revolutionary War hostilities. When these men signed this document, they were laying their lives on the line, since there was a bounty on the revolutionaries' heads.
"And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." When Benjamin Franklin signed the Declaration of Independence, he stated, "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately." It is noteworthy that these men relied upon a Divine Savior for their guidance.
John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail these words, "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 by pomp and parade with shows, games, sports, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward, forevermore."
As the news spread, celebrations began immediately. In that first year, they featured readings of the Declaration of Independence in public places, accompanied by the firing of muskets and cannon. The statue of King George was torn down and the lead turned into bullets. Everywhere were military parades, bells ringing, toasts, fireworks and music. The story of the birth of the United States is thrilling and inspiring, full of heroes and their words and deeds.
It is wonderful to have the freedom to celebrate Independence Day with such all-American activities as picnics and barbecues, baseball games, races and contests, parades with marching bands, concerts and fireworks. We need to remember why we are celebrating, and honor the great men who brought this about, and most of all give thanks to God Almighty who guided these men.
We have received more responses in our request for song lyrics, and we'd like to thank Fred Kinder (sent in by Ruth Trauffer), S. J. Nelson and Macel Shaffer of Charleston, and also Helen Huddleston of Craigsville. We are grateful to these readers.
Here is the other song that was requested:
There'll Be Shouting
What a happy time is coming, when we reach our home in heaven
And the burdens which we've borne we'll bear no more;
When the angel sounds the trumpet, calling us to those bright mansions,
There'll be shouting on the everlasting shore.
July slipped into our hills with very little fanfare, replacing June and bringing more summertime weather. Midsummer flowers are already blooming, with the orange blaze of butterfly weed (or pleurisy weed) brightening the meadows. The pure blue of chicory appears along the roadsides, interspersed with bright orange day lilies. It is hard to believe that our year is half gone.
Country gardeners are enjoying the first crops of the season: tender yellow squash, crisp cucumbers, bright green broccoli, new potatoes, Brussels sprouts, creamy cauliflower and other fresh vegetables. It has always been a source of pride to have fresh green beans by the Fourth of July, and we almost made it this year. We have to give credit to our son-in-law Bob, who is a marvelous gardener and produces enormous amounts of vegetables.
Independence Day is here, with planned celebrations and family outings. I wondered if our young ones knew what this day really meant, so I asked two of my great-grandchildren. Hunter is almost 6, so his mind was on fireworks - and his birthday, which is the day before. Molly, age 10, is more knowledgeable and answered, "Well, it's when we were owned by England, and we got our freedom." I guess that's about it in a nutshell.
When I was the age of Hunter, the Fourth of July meant picnicking on Big Laurel Creek, with fried chicken, lemonade and watermelon. Of course we went in swimming and enjoyed the clean, cool waters of Big Laurel. I saw my first fireworks display when I was about 16, visiting my cousin Bobby when they lived at Lake Chaweva. It was a wondrous sight to me, with fireworks forming the American flag and other patterns.
Now we realize that Independence Day is more than an opportunity for families to get together to enjoy the barbecues, picnics and fireworks displays. It is an annual celebration to commemorate the courage and faith of our Founding Fathers in their pursuit of freedom. Sacrifices were made by courageous leaders who, at great personal risk, struggled to unite a young nation.
The Declaration of Independence states, "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." These memorable words were penned by Thomas Jefferson at the age of 33, and laid the cornerstone of the United States of America.
This decision was not undertaken rashly. During the years leading up to the Revolutionary War, most colonists had no thought of separation from their homeland, but they grew increasingly alienated by unjust treatment by England and the king. The adoption of the Declaration of Independence took place against the backdrop of increasing Revolutionary War hostilities. When these men signed this document, they were laying their lives on the line, since there was a bounty on the revolutionaries' heads.
"And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." When Benjamin Franklin signed the Declaration of Independence, he stated, "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately." It is noteworthy that these men relied upon a Divine Savior for their guidance.
John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail these words, "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 by pomp and parade with shows, games, sports, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward, forevermore."
As the news spread, celebrations began immediately. In that first year, they featured readings of the Declaration of Independence in public places, accompanied by the firing of muskets and cannon. The statue of King George was torn down and the lead turned into bullets. Everywhere were military parades, bells ringing, toasts, fireworks and music. The story of the birth of the United States is thrilling and inspiring, full of heroes and their words and deeds.
It is wonderful to have the freedom to celebrate Independence Day with such all-American activities as picnics and barbecues, baseball games, races and contests, parades with marching bands, concerts and fireworks. We need to remember why we are celebrating, and honor the great men who brought this about, and most of all give thanks to God Almighty who guided these men.
We have received more responses in our request for song lyrics, and we'd like to thank Fred Kinder (sent in by Ruth Trauffer), S. J. Nelson and Macel Shaffer of Charleston, and also Helen Huddleston of Craigsville. We are grateful to these readers.
Here is the other song that was requested:
There'll Be Shouting
What a happy time is coming, when we reach our home in heaven
And the burdens which we've borne we'll bear no more;
When the angel sounds the trumpet, calling us to those bright mansions,
There'll be shouting on the everlasting shore.
Chorus:
There'll be shouting on the hills of glory. Shouting (on the hills)
Yes, shouting (on the hills)
When we reach that land of which we've heard the story,
There'll be shouting on the hills of God.
When the saints begin to gather 'round the throne in that blest city,
And the angel-choir the songs of praise out-pour;
Harps of gold will then be ringing, saints of all the ages singing,
Such a meeting as we never saw before.
On that blessed happy morning, when old friends are reunited,
And when our loved ones we will see again;
In that happy land eternal, we shall live in joy supernal,
And with Jesus and His angels ever reign.
On that happy glad tomorrow, when we leave this world of sorrow,
And we all shall gather on the other shore;
There'll be shouting; there'll be singing, all around glad praises ringing,
We shall live in peace and joy forevermore.
I leave you with great-granddaughter Katie's table grace, "Dear Heavenly Fathers: [how many does she have?] Thank you for the trees that give us oxygen for our throats - and thank you for this humbling food." I've eaten a lot of humbling food in my lifetime.
Contact Alyce Faye Bragg at alycef...@citlink.net or write to 2556 Summers Fork Road, Ovapa, WV 25164.
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