Independence Day 2026 · 4 July 2026
Happy birthday, America! Two-hundred and fifty years and counting. Woo hoo!
It is interesting that we celebrate Independence Day on the Fourth of July when the document was adopted but not yet signed. (Apparently, it was signed in August of that year. Who knew?) Still, the date is on the document, so I guess it makes sense.
The document itself makes sense too.
Most people remember the beginning of the second paragraph:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
I do not know why, but I tend to remember the part after the first clause of the first paragraph:
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people…
And yes, both sections that I have quoted are written as they are written in the document. Capitalization, spelling, and even commas. (Apparently, Jefferson and the other authors did not like Oxford commas. Who knew?)
And, by the way, I actually do know why I know the first part of the Declaration of Independence. It was a question asked a long time ago. Like a trivia question: You know the first words of the Constitution (We the people), but do you know the first words of the Declaration of Independence? Or something like that. I did not know the words at the time, but I did after that. They just stuck. “When in the course of human events…”
But I digress.
People might think that the Declaration of Independence is just a bunch of words, but it took blood, sweat, and tears to make those words stick. It took years to back up this profound document. Years to make this country free. I know that even now it takes blood, sweat, and tears to keep it that way.
Now, I know that I have not really said much, but I would like to leave you with one last quote. George Washington said:
“The people must remain ever vigilant against tyrants masquerading as public servants.”
That saying is as true today as it was then. Which is why we must remember that freedom always has a cost.
Happy birthday, America! May we, your citizens, remember that we have a responsibility to keep this country free. To honor those who came before us and to bless those who come after us.
© 2026 Michael T. Miyoshi
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