Independence Day

Wednesday 4th July This public holiday celebrates the publication of the Declaration of Independence on 4th July 1776 which marked the independence of these colonies from British government and the tyranny of being ruled by a remote King (George III as it happens). The Declaration was written, published and signed in Philadelphia by the founding fathers of USA which included polymath Benjamin Fanklin and future presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. The text is well known to all American school children (reproduced here with a list of the signatories for your edification http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/) but it remains surprisingly relevant today and the principles it enshrines have guided the development of this nation - "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness.". So, in annual celebration, out come the flags, the banners, the pool parties and the watermelon (we are learning the joys of that on a hot hot day). We spent the day decorating, dipping in our pool and then off to the local township park for the band and fireworks (not quite London jubilee standards but pretty impressive for a small township). C rushed off to get her coat before leaving - she had remembered she is always cold at fireworks - not these we explained as this isn't Novemeber in UK. It was nice to bump into a couple of families from soft ball there - reckon we are slowly getting to know some guys (as the children would say).