"July 4, 1776 - Nothing of importance this day.”

- Diary of King George III of England

Little did he know…

It’s easy to get caught up in the festivities of the 4th of July – backyard barbeques, a mini-vacation, time with family and friends … but let’s not forget what we’re celebrating.

On July 4, 1776, a mixed group of mostly soft-spoken, hard-working men signed the Declaration of Independence. It was bold, it was rebellious, and it was treason. At the time, those 56 men were subjects of King George, and they knew that signing that Declaration could cost them their lives. But they felt so strongly that their America should be free, they took that risk.

“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.”
- John Adams, 1776

Let’s not forget this beautifully-crafted document, the bold courage it took to sign it and the freedoms we now enjoy because of it.