Observing and Celebrating Independence Day

Happy Independence Day,

As we enjoy the festive moments of the 4th of July, it is important to remember the extraordinary “why” of this day. The opportunity to gather in safety among friends and family to celebrate our Independence Day was earned by the courage and selfless service of American colonists who took up arms to secure that freedom of assembly and gain their freedom from tyranny. It is a truly memorable day in the history of the United States of America, one that honors the adoption by the Second Continental Congress of our Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. The 4th of July also honors our revolutionary commitment to the ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That remarkable statement of principles launched a wave of similar revolutions for the inalienable rights of people across Europe, and provided powerful aspirations for freedom and justice worldwide which endure to this day.

The hard part of winning our freedom fell in large measure to the newly formed militias and the new Continental Army of the American colonists, founded in 1775. At first, our troops were untrained, locally organized and focused on local missions, woefully funded, poorly equipped, and haphazardly led. But they believed in the common cause of freedom, and stepped forward to protect the ideals of the Declaration with their very lives. The military campaigns from the Hudson Valley to the Carolinas in the hard years following the signing of the Declaration were filled with great risk and continuous doubt, considerable casualties, and deep hardship for all Americans. Within a few weeks of the 4th of July 1776, the British Army soundly defeated our new troops in battles around New York, and pushed them south. Our Continental soldiers then engaged in a multi-year struggle to rebuild and train while fighting at the same time in disparate and costly skirmishes. In time they developed hard earned experience in the art and science of eighteenth century warfare that would turn their initial losses to modest but steady victories. The exceptional leadership of General George Washington, the support of the French, and the crucible of Valley Forge under the skilled taskmaster Baron Von Steuben, would all bring about substantive improvements to the Continentals. The battle of Yorktown signaled the inevitable victory of independence.

The 4th of July is a good day to recall the brilliant leadership accomplishments of the heroes of the Revolutionary War – of Washington and his talented general staff, of the great Polish engineer Thaddeus Kosciuszko, the innovative strategist of the Colonial South, Nathaniel Greene, of Paul Revere’s many contributions to the war, the bravery of Margaret Corbin at Fort Washington, and the logistical genius of Henry Knox in the siege of Boston. Those stories are well worth retelling to each new generation. For the extraordinary achievements of our Colonial leaders and soldiers in battle, taken collectively, lead in a straight line to our current celebration of Independence Day. They secured our extraordinary nation that Abraham Lincoln called, “the last best hope of earth.” In our joyous celebration of the 4th of July, let us pause to relearn and remember the sacrifice, the bravery, and the commitment of those American soldiers who led the way to our freedom, and those who continue to secure the liberty of so many around the world today.

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