Political Quotes

“Mr. President, 235 years ago this weekend, John Adams proclaimed that July 2 would mark the most memorable epoch in the history of America. It was on that day the Continental Congress declared the 13 colonies free and independent of Great Britain's Crown. It was 2 days after that when Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence was adopted. And when did Americans first celebrate their independence? Philadelphia threw a big party on July 8, 1776, including a parade and the firing of guns. George Washington, then camped near New York City, heard the news on July 9 and celebrated then. But in 1781, Massachusetts became the first State to recognize July 4 as a State celebration. Ten years later, the young Nation's celebration was dubbed Independence Day. This Independence Day I hope every American will stop and think for just a minute about our freedoms--and just how much we owe those who came here long before us and mutually pledged to each other their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. And let us also remember the young men and women who have died in defense of those freedoms. We traditionally observe the Fourth with fireworks and fanfare, pomp and parade. But today we remain engaged in far-away struggles to promote and protect the rights of others who, like us, value freedom and independence. Many of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coastguardsmen are spending their Fourth in Iraq and Afghanistan and other parts of world.…”