"We hold these truths to be self-evident" Some Fourth of July thoughts and hopes!

Richard, you are right, with the sacrifice of many defending it, we should never take our freedom for granted.

Richard - Great timely Post and tribute to the principles of freedom that our great country is based upon. God Bless America. May your 4th of July be safe and happy.

Great post Richard! We must truly not forget nor allow our freedoms to be taken from us. God Bless America! Enjoy your Independence Day!

---Kim, Virtual Assistant with REVATS

Well written, Richard.  I was just describing the price of freedom as paid by those 56 men on my blog ;) Great minds and all!

No, we musn't forget the price (of fallen soldiers) and the fight (destruction of land & families) for the right to our freedoms. Have a great 4th, Richard, and thanks for the post and, as always, spectacular pics!

It is my most ardent hope that we do not desecrate the courage and sacrifice of these free-thinking rebels by giving up their legacy of freedom that was bequeathed to us.

It is our duty and obligation to protect and defend their precious gift of independence!

Richard - These words in your post today are the foundation of what we should all adhere to today and everyday!  You'll never know how much your post means to me today.  Thank you!  Have a wonderful 4th of July!

Hopefully there are a few of them good men left because I am afraid that we are headed that way again.

I never realize how the British targeted the signors of the Declaration of Independence and how many of them paid the ultimate sacrifice for that decision. Enjoy the 4th.

You can't put a price on Freedom!....it's priceless.

Patricia

Richard, lovely post.  A few weeks ago, I went down to Monticello to Jefferson's plantation.  It was pretty inspirational to see part of the history of this founding father who wrote these words.

Richard,

Thank you for an eloquent written post. Thank you for your inspiration on this day to celebrate our freedom! Happy July 4th!

Great sentiments and outstanding photos. I hope to visit that park some day.

Hi Richard... I instictively knew that you would have a special post for this holiday and you didn't let me down!  Hope that your holiday was a great one!

Hi Richard -- Thank you for a well-written post and I always look forward to your exceptional photography skills as well.

Richard - Thanks for summing things up so nicely here.  Very well done, my friend.  Happy independence Day!

Wouldn't it be greqat if kids learned the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution in school? 

The whims of a monarch which had been thrust into an unwanted war 20 years prior and who had been put into debt by those 56 men and others who initiated that war and refused to pay a dime for it.

What am I talking about? History, of course. We teach the "patriotic" side, and don't really know all of the background as to how we actually got here. Am I being revisonist? Not at all. Just pointing out the truism that there is always more than one side to every story.

BTW, I teach the Declaration and the Constitution to my students...10 years now, including summer school, and I don't leave out the inconvenient facts just so they can feel all warm and fuzzy about our country. They need to be able to make decisions based on all of the facts available.

Heartwarming, tugging at the heartstrings post, Richard. I wonder what those 56 men would think of the new trend in our country? The one that chooses safety over freedom? Would Jefferson and the others recommend that we continue this trend or would they start another revolution?

Richard: I hope you (and all above that left so many wonderful comments) had a wonderful 4th of July! Thanks for summing up the 56... and our independence. We have so much to be greatful, a precious gift indeed...