I Am Proud to be an American

I love the 4th of July and I love to celebrate it every year with family and friends and good food and fireworks and the blessings of freedom so richly bestowed upon us by God and by countless Americans who have worked and died to protect our freedoms that we enjoy. Why do we celebrate American Independence Day on the Fourth of July every year? We think of July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation. But July 4, 1776 wasn't the day that the Continental Congress decided to declare independence (they did that on July 2, 1776). It wasn’t the day we started the American Revolution either (that had happened back in April 1775). And it wasn't the day Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence (that was in June 1776). Or the date on which the Declaration was delivered to Great Britain (that didn't happen until November 1776). Or the date it was signed (that was August 2, 1776). So what did happen on July 4, 1776? The Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. They'd been working on it for a couple of days after the draft was submitted on July 2nd and finally agreed on all of the edits and changes. July 4, 1776, became the date that was included on the Declaration of Independence, and the fancy handwritten copy that was signed in August (the copy now displayed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.) It’s also the date that was printed on the Dunlap Broadsides, the original printed copies of the Declaration that were circulated throughout the new nation. So when people thought of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776 was the date they remembered. How many Americans have lost their lives to defend our freedom since the Revolutionary War? 1.1 million Americans have given their lives so that we could be free from Britain, free from slavery, free from attack by world powers, and free from terrorism. Now that is something to honor and to celebrate. In the South, we like to honor those Americans and honor our countries freedom with family get-togethers, good food, and fireworks. And we decorate our homes so that everyone will know that we are proud to be an American. I saw this picture of a front porch rocker with a throw pillow made from one of those inexpensive Walmart or Dollar Store flags.

They just removed the stick and cut a piece of outdoor fabric the same size as the flag (to serve as the back of the pillow) sewed a seam around the edges and left a small opening to stuff the pillow with polyester fiberfill. Then sew up the edge and, voila! An easy little American flag pillow!

And we decorate our Independence Day table with quilted placemats and table runners.

It doesn't have to be elaborate.....it's just those simple touches that makes the difference. So whatever your plans are this 4th of July, enjoy every single moment with your loved ones sharing a meal, swimming in the river, making homemade ice cream and s'mores over the fire. And in your American heart and your American mind.....remember those who don't get to spend these precious family memories with their loved ones because they gave their lives so that you could.