The Truth About Independence Day

With a thunderous crack, a blinding light and a whiff of sulfur, it begins. 

If your community is like ours, we’ve been celebrating Independence Day for a week or so already. Nightly fireworks shows put on by neighbors shake the air every evening as kids laugh, dazzled by the colored embers above them. 

Despite the noise, it can be peaceful. There’s a feeling of pride in living in a country that celebrates its Independence in such an elaborate way. There’s a feeling of excitement knowing in a couple of days the celebration gets just that much bigger. There’s an anticipation of family barbecues and community fairs that rises in your chest and you can’t sleep, not because the noise keeps you awake, but because you can’t contain the joy. It’s almost Independence Day and what a beautiful day it is. 

The truth is, there is so much more to love about this holiday than the fireworks and the family barbecues. Independence Day is a time to celebrate the history of The United States of America and the men and women who fight to preserve it. 

Since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, our nation has grown from 13 small colonies into a country of 3.79 million square acres of land with expansive deserts, soaring mountains and stunning coastlines. We have become a superpower sitting at the head of global organizations, forming partnerships with countries on nearly every continent. We have become an economic powerhouse with industrial revolutions that changed the course of history. Could our forefathers have imagined such a country all those years ago, we don’t know, but I think they’d be proud.

Independence Day is a time to celebrate how far we’ve come, but even more so, it’s a time to honor those who have fought to preserve the freedom the colonists won two centuries ago. To this day, our military remains the most powerful in the world. Our troops are a dedicated bunch of strong men and women who have given their lives to protecting their families, friends, neighbors and countrymen from forces who want to take away that freedom. They fight for freedom and independence every day and without them, we wouldn’t have the rights we have today. 

We believe honoring our troops is the best way to celebrate the July 4 holiday, so take some time this week to remember them. When you watch your local fireworks show, take the time to recognize those “bombs bursting in air” remind us that freedom isn’t free. Remember that no matter what our nation faces, our flag remains. 

The James Allen Companies would like to say a special thank you to all those who have dedicated their lives to protecting our nation’s freedom. Please have a blessed and safe Independence Day!

God Bless America, 

Sincerely,

The James Allen Companies.