Happy Fourth Of July/Virtual Fireworks

For those of you who can't get to a real fireworks display, here are two links where you can set off your own fireworks by clicking on your mouse. Here & here.



The nation celebrates the 231th year since the Declaration of Independence. July 4th, 1776 was the watershed moment when the American colonies voted to formally break from Great Britain. War was inevitable & the successful outcome of that war for the colonies was gloomy indeed.

An assemblage of volunteers was pitted against the most formidable military power in the world. Success came 6 yrs later after a long, contentious fight for independence. But that only set the stage for building a nation. The Articles of Confederation, then the Constitution finally gave birth to the United States of America.

There were many heroes & brilliant men who helped establish the U.S.A at that time. It could almost seem that Divine Providence stepped in by delivering so many of those men at that time.

The U.S.A of 1787 was an unheard of experiment in that era - a truly free, democratic Republic. From our perspective, it is easy to not appreciate how truly revolutionary this form of government was.

Let us celebrate what our ancestors gave us & the world. Let us remember those in the armed forces who won the right for this country to exist & those in all our armed conflicts who helped & continue to help this country remain free.

America is the bright beacon of the world, the best hope of the world. This is attested to by the millions of have come, still come & wish to come to these shores.