...well, technically. On July 2nd, 1776, the Second Continental Congress passed Richard Henry Lee's Resolution that explained the the justifications for separation from the British crown and in essence, first proclaimed independence. On July 4th, the Congress adopted this declaration and it was signed by most of the delegates on August 2nd...did you know the only delegate to sign it on July 4th was John Hancock (the elected President of the Congress)? And if you recall the document, Mr. Hancock's is the largest signature. Mmmmm, trivia is fascinating.

Some of our favorites were a part of the Congress back then: John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson, to name a few. Much of the phrasing were excerpts from a famous English philosopher named John Locke. Not all the colonists agreed with the precepts and yet it still prevailed.

Many of you are familiar with a famous painting by John Trumbull that has been mistaken for depicting the signing of the Declaration of Independence when in fact it actually shows the drafting committee presenting its work to Congress.

The original document was taken to a local press owned by John Dunlap and they made about 150 copies...the first public reading was by John Nixon in the yard of Independence Hall on July 8th (truly a great day...my birthday of course!). One was sent to George Washington who read it to his troops on July 9th. A copy reached London on August 10th...surprise! The original handwritten copy did not survive, and 25 of the "Dunlap" copies are still in existence. On July 19th, an "engrossed" copy was made for all the signatures...a total of 56 eventually signed the document in geographic order of their colonies, north to south.

Oh well, enough of the U.S. Government History lesson! I'm so thankful for those who paid the price for my freedom to this day, God Bless America and have a very safe and refreshing July 2nd (oops) July 4th holiday.