E-mail this story      Printer-friendly version

Independence Day: The holiday that almost wasn't Submitted by VFW #6672 Sunshine, picnics, watermelon, parades, flags flying, music playing, it all adds up to America's celebration of her birthday. Independence Day, July 4, is America's most patriotic holiday, but it's a holiday that almost wasn't. We all know that the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, and thus, we celebrate Independence Day on July 4 of each year. But, what most people don't know is that the resolution, calling for independence from England was passed on July 2, 1776. John Adams was ecstatic and he wrote his wife that generations to come would celebrate July 2 as the birth of American independence. He was wrong. The day of celebration has become, not the day the resolution passed, but the day the Declaration of Independence was signed. National/Department and Thomson #6672 Veterans of Foreign Wars and Ladies Auxiliary encourages everyone to join in the celebration and make this July 4, the 228th year of American freedom, the best Fourth of July ever. Web posted on Thursday, July 1, 2004