4th of July, 2022: A Reading, a Talk and Fireworks

JULY 4th

Another birthday for our country.

I drove to McHenry and stopped at Jewel after getting two Sausage McMuffins at McDonald's (two for $2).  Bought six 12-packs of Diet Coke at Jewel for $20.  That's just $3.33 a pack, a great price in these days of inflation.  Seems like everything in grocery stores is more expensive or downsizing.

I went to the 4th of July commemoration in Veterans Park, put on by the McHenry American Legion and Polish League of American Veterans (PLAV).  We keep two folding chairs (not those sling things) in the trunk of the Malibu all summer as you never know when you're going to need them.  I used one at the park and found a nice spot shaded by a tree.  

There was a reading of the entire Declaration of Independence,something that was often done in the early years of the celebration.  This was followed by a talk about formerly secret U.S. Army operations in Nicaragua and Central America back in the 1970s and 1980s.  It was a big secret and we lost quite a few military personnel in it.  

The wife of Jeffrey C. Schwab was there.  He was killed in a helicopter crash on January 11, 1984.

Afterwards, I went over to the McHenry Legion and a big crowd of people  came in from the ceremony.  I sat next to Mrs. Schwab and had a nice talk with her.

Watched the Spring Grove fireworks display from the foot of the driveway, the only place you can still see  them since all the neighborhood trees have grown so tall.  We used to be able to see them from the front porch.

Happy 246th Birthday U.S.A.  --RoadDog

It Was 231 Years Ago Today

No, Sgt. Pepper did not teach the band to play. And no, it didn't have to do anything with THAT British group, but definitely it had to do with another British group.

This document called the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress and it declared that the 13 colonies were henceforth free and independent of Great Britain. It was written mostly by Thomas Jefferson and borrowed heavily from other writings and political thought of the time. It was not signed on this date as most Americans believe.

"When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another...."

And, of course, "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator, with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."

I am not sure I would have signed the document or even approved it. These men, mostly wealthy, were putting everything, including their lives on the line. Failure would have meant the hangman's noose and there was no real reason to believe they could beat the strongest country in the world. Mighty brave men.

A few misconceptions of the event:

1. The famous John Trumball painting is not actually the signing of the document, but rather the presentation of it by the drafting committee. This gathering never took place.

2. The Liberty Bell was not rung as its tower was in disrepair. It's name "Liberty" was more from the abolition movement.

Even with all the problems, I's definitely rather live here than anywhere else.

Happy Birthday USA!!! --RoadDog