When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
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On July 2nd, 1776, the Second Continental Congress of American colonies passed a resolution proposed by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia and dissolved its relationship with the empire of Great Britain. The colonies’ declaration of independence was written and revised over the course of the next two days, finally published on the 4th of July.
The populace seized on the date printed on the declaration and the 4th became the commonly perceived date of America’s independence. This lead to a humorous quote by future president John Adams.
The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.
Originally Decoration Day, the holiday came into being to celebrate Union soldiers that sacrificed their lives to preserve the country. First celebrations were actually held by freed slaves in the South to celebrate their emancipation. The name was not officially changed to Memorial Day until 1967.
The day was so synonymous with the Civil War that veterans of the First World War received their own day of recognition, Armistice Day (now Veterans Day). It has since grown to not only recognize the dead but to thank the living who still serve. Many cities and towns hold parades, dedicate streets in a person’s honor (Boston has 1,230 “hero squares”), hang wreathes, and plant flags at cemeteries.
If you don’t see these kinds of things in your area, perhaps you should consider beginning the effort yourself. Remember those who fell so you might stand.
Civil War: 625,000 dead, 281,881 wounded (Union only)
World War 1: 116,516 dead, 2004,002 wounded
World War 2: 405,399 dead, 670,846 wounded
Korean Conflict: 53,686 dead, 92,134 wounded
Vietnam Conflict: 58,209 dead, 153,303
First Iraq Conflict: 382 dead, 849 wounded
Current Conflicts: 5,491 dead, 37,865 wounded
The Holy Temple was built by King Solomon in the 10th century BCE, It acted as the center of the Jewish faith until it was destroyed by the Babylonians who sacked Jerusalem in 586 BCE. A second temple was authorized by Cyrus the Great, emperor of Persia. The finished second temple was dedicated in 515 BCE. In the 2nd century BCE, the Macabees liberated Jerusalem and a large part of Israel from the Seleucid Empire (the remnant of old Persia). When they recaptured the temple, the Macabees discovered that all the jugs of ritual olive oil had been profaned except for one. They used the oil to relight the altar fire and the oil miraculously burned for eight days.
Hannukah is an annual celebration of that dedication that takes place on the 25th day of Kislev (somewhere between the end of November and the end of December). The celebration includes the lighting of a menorah. Each night, a successive branch of the menorah is lit. (The menorah actually has nine branches. The center, tallest branch holds the shamash—the helper candle that is used to light the other eight candles.) The light can be from a candle or oil lamp. On the first night when the lights are lit, three blessings are prayed: sheheheyanu, hanerot halalu, and maoz tzur. On the remaining nights, only the latter two prayers are recited.
Jewish eschatology ties the construction of a third Holy Temple in Jerusalem with the coming of the messiah.
Today we give thanks for you, our friends, and the good lives we lead. Thank you, everyone.
