The Real Independence Day

My mom got me started on the real Independence Day stuff. She would always (in true history teacher style) tell my sister and I tales from the Revolutionary War. If you know my mom at all, you know she is a good story teller. She, and I know this may be hard for some to understand, could make colonial times seem like the most fascinating thing. To this day, she still knows more historical facts and stories than anyone I have met. History always comes alive when she gets talking. It was probably for that reason that I became so enthralled with history and letting my imagination just go. Believe me, a lot goes on in my mind in such a short time, and when I was five I am pretty sure I conjured up some great dramas that could have made it to Hollywood. For example, every Fourth of July up here on Big Star, there is a firework show (yes, I have not missed one in 22 years). From the time I was a baby my mom and the rest of my family would practically give a history lesson on how America became an independent nation as we sat along our shore watching the fireworks light up the lake. Even tonight, as I sit on the porch watching the many boats travel back to their cottages, historical talk is going on. When I was little, I always thought the big boom the fireworks would give off sounded exactly (or what i thought sounded like) canons going off, like in a war. It made the feeling of celebrating our independence even more real. When I would go to bed, the booming would just get more intense throughout the night. So, and please don't judge me to hard when I tell you this because I was just a child, at night every Fourth of July I would pretend that I was living during the Revolution. Instead of those booms coming from a firework, my five year old self would pretend that some canons were being fired in my backyard and I wouldn't know if my house would make it through the night. Let me tell you, it made my childhood very exciting.

So, as tomorrow is the Fourth of July, I think I should pay tribute to some people long gone who I have always admired. And, in case you are wondering, I got all of this information as I was planning my very first fifth grade unit this past year, just like my mom. These leaders are people I wish I could sit down and chat with. Sometimes I wonder if they, when they were alive fighting for their cause, realized that two hundred some years later we would be devoting practically an entire weekend to what they were fighting for? None-the-less, these people are the kind I wish and hope I can someday be like.

First of all, you really can't begin celebrating America without paying tribute to George Washington; I mean, c'mon, the guy has had our capital named after him, not to mention the countless streets, s, cities, and state that bears the name. He had to have been a genius for being the military leader that ended up winning the Revolutionary War - a war we were not expected to even have a chance at winning.
He has a quote that says, "It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible." I think, as a Christian, that this is a powerful statement because I personally do want a Christian leading our nation.
This next guy is one that I remember learning about in my mom's fifth grade class. His name is John Adams. Obviously he was the second president of the US, but he also helped draft the Declaration of Independence. Not only that, he supported women having a voice in a time when men were doing most of the talking, and for that, I am greatly appreciative :)

John Hancock. I am sure we have all heard people say, "Give me your John Hancock," meaning, sign this. I learned, once again in my mom's class, that Hancock was the first signer of the Declaration. He must have been brave because he knew that the King would read this and see who signed the paper. Who knows what could have happened to those men who signed it. Then John Hancock goes and signs his name in large print. Gotta love a man who is not afraid of what he wants. And then he stated, "There. I guess King George will be able to read that."

Of course, I have to include a woman. Here is Abigail Adams. And, she holds a special place in my heart because I was Abigail in one of my elementary school plays. I have to believe that her husband, John, could not have been as successful as he was if she was not not standing beside him doing her part. I love how she didn't just stay along the sidelines but instead let her opinion be heard. She says it best here, "If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation." I have a feeling she would have been fun to hang out with.

Finally, my personal favorite, Abraham Lincoln. I know he wasn't alive during the Revolution, but in my mind he has got to be one of our country's greatest leaders. Anyone who can lead a country through a civil war and stay humble has got to be amazing. Recently I read a short little story about his life. First of all, many of the people in his life died at a young age; his mother when he was a child, his first love when they were dating, three out of his four sons died as children, and his wife died early as well. Beyond that, Lincoln lost almost every government position he ran for in his early days of politics. He was also labeled as not very attractive, and lanky. Despite all of his hardships, he never gave up. Thank goodness he didn't, either. He is the person I would most like to go back in time and meet. How did he live through all of that and still remain such a steady leader? He was quoted as saying, "Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other." That must have been the case for him, because he had everything in the world telling him he couldn't make it, and look at what he did for America.

With that, I am going to go to bed now. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and if only for a second remembers how lucky we are to be living in a nation that gives us our freedom.

P.S. I will write again Monday. This weekend has given me many good stories to share!