On the Fourth of July we celebrate the day that American colonies declared their independence from England.

By 1774, the colonists were becoming increasingly frustrated with England because of their escalating taxes, yet they had not representation in England’s Parliament. King George II sent troops to occupy the colonies and quell any discontent.

For more than a year, the Continental Congress tried to resolve the problems with England without declaring war, but during the spring of 1776, sentiment rapidly grew in favor of independence. On June 7, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduced his famous resolution that “this united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States.”

The Continental Congress appointed a committee of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman to draw up a formal declaration of independence.

Jefferson was given the task of preparing the draft. The Declaration of Independence he wrote set forth the position of the American Revolutionaries with eloquence, supported by strong legal argument.

Few of the ideas were new. Jefferson said his objective was “to place before mankind the common sense of the subject, in terms so plain and firm as to command their assent.”

The committee and congress approved the document with few changes. As Richard Lee said, “The Thing in its nature is so good that no cookery can spoil the dish for the palates of freemen.”

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America was signed on July 4, 1776.

Fourth of July celebrations were popular right from the start. Philadelphia celebrated Independence Day in 1777, with parades of soldiers, cannons firing, bonfires, fireworks, ringing bells, and candles in windows. Traditions of picnics, parades, and fireworks were firmly established by the early 1800s. Today, skies around the country are ablaze every July 4, as Americans celebrate Independence Day.

Last week as I was passing through customs in Los Angles, a man who looked at my entry papers and my passport greeted me. As he gave back my passport he said to me, “Welcome home.” I love the adventure of travel, but it has taught me how much I love and appreciate coming home to America.

On one of my recent trips to China, I went to the back of the plane to ask the flight attendant a question. She asked me if I was from America. I told her yes. Then she said, “We call your country ‘Megwa.’ In Chinese ‘Megwa’ means ‘beautiful country.’”

To me July 4^th is a day that I celebrate and reflect on the past, the present and the future of this ‘beautiful country.’

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