“that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states …”

they were writing for the ages
I don’t mean to go all Bachmann on ya, but if I ever learned that some signers of the Declaration of Independence signed on and after August 2, 1776, I had forgotten that. Per the Wiki, some of these late signers had been present for the debates but were away when the first signers signed, other late signers were not members of the Continental Congress until after July 4, 1776.

In past years on this date I have printed the text, which is always a good read, start to finish, especially if you have not read it in a while. It is much easier to read here than in the facsimile printed today, as usual, on the back page of the front section of the New York Times (but less fun?). (Note to self: ask daughter if she ever read that ripped-out NYT page I mailed her every year she was away at summer camp, back in the day….)

• 2007:  July 4 – ’nuff said (the text, and signatories)
• text again, in 2008 (no imagination!) when in the course…
• 2010, we had a celebrity in town: see an original fair copy of The Declaration of Independence

Of course, the Declaration did not make us a nation. The Constitution did that in 1789. But what a glorious start!

Congratulations on this ‘birthday’ to all citizens of the US of A, and to people everywhere who are inspired by this country’s foundation stories.

Our work as citizens is never ‘done’, however. It is a good day to reflect on that, and to “mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor” to “form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity” (that second part’s the Preamble to the Constitution, Michele). I am thinking today about working to re-elect a certain president; you may have other priorities, but let’s all get to work (tomorrow).

© Sandy Mattingly 2011