This is our first 4th as a family, so I wanted to start a tradition. Dennis Prager, my favorite radio host and inspiration for so many things, has a ceremony he does every year. He also teaches and encourages us to remember that our country is the most amazing experiment and gift; we cannot take it for granted!
Daddy hung up a flag on our door. When we move into our McCormick home, we’ll have a bigger one, but this is just perfect for now.
Tatum is all dressed up and ready for our outing. We’ll be meeting Mama for Toy Story 4! Sure it is not very patriotic, but going to the movies is an American pastime. Ok, maybe that’s a reach.
And Cooper too!
The movie was wonderful and celebrated the imagination and creation of any toy! Tatum is gifted in that area; she can turn anything into a toy and make believe. The power of her creativity!
Later in the day, we began our ceremony. I got it all set up.
We are ready~
Now I begin to read….
All of this is Prager’s script:
“Today, we take a few minutes to remember what the Fourth of July is about and to remind ourselves how fortunate we are to be Americans.
Before America was a nation, it was a dream — a dream shared by many people, from many nations, over many generations.
It began with the Pilgrims in 1620, who fled Europe so that they could be free to practice their religion. It continued through the 17th century, as more and more people arrived in a place that came to be known as the New World. In this new world, where you were from didn’t matter; what mattered was where you were headed.
As more and more people settled, they started to see themselves as new people — Americans.
They felt blessed: The land was spacious. The opportunities limitless.
By 1776, a century and a half after the first Pilgrims landed, this new liberty-loving people was ready to create a new nation.
And on July 4 of that year, they did just that. They pronounced themselves to be free of the rule of the English king. We know this statement as the Declaration of Independence.”
Now, Tatum will read:
Q: Why do we celebrate the Fourth of July?
A: Because the Fourth of July is the birthday of the American people — the day we chose to become the United States of America, a free nation.
Q: Why was America different from all other countries?
A: Because in 1776, all countries were based on nationality, religion, ethnicity or geography. But America was created on the basis of a set of ideas. This is still true today.
Q: What are those ideas?
A: Three ideas summarize what America is all about. They are engraved on every American coin. They are “Liberty,” “In God We Trust” and “E Pluribus Unum.”
““Liberty” means that we are free to pursue our dreams and to go as far in life as hard work and good luck will take us.
“In God We Trust” means that America was founded on the belief that our rights and liberties have been granted to us by the Creator. Therefore they cannot be taken away by people.
“E Pluribus Unum” is a Latin phrase meaning “From Many, One.” Unlike other countries, America is composed of people of every religious, racial, ethnic, cultural and national origin — and regards every one of them as equally American. Therefore, “out of many (people we become) one” — Americans. “
We have on our table items that symbolize the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War that won our freedom.
— We drink iced tea to remember the Boston Tea Party. “No taxation without representation” was the patriots’ chant as they dumped British tea into the Boston Harbor. ( I used lemonade)
— We eat a salty pretzel to remember the tears shed by the families who lost loved ones in the struggle for freedom in The Revolutionary War and all the wars of freedom that followed. (I used salt and vinegar chips)
— We ring a bell to recall the Liberty Bell, which was rung to announce the surrender of the King’s army. On the bell are inscribed these words from the Book of Leviticus: “Proclaim Liberty throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants thereof.”
— We eat strawberries and blueberries dipped in whipped cream to celebrate the red, white and blue of our flag.
We celebrate America’s greatness without denying its flaws. There are no perfect individuals, so there can certainly be no perfect country. Our national history has its share of shame. The greatest of these is the shame of slavery, which existed at our founding, as it existed throughout the world at that time.
But let it never be forgotten that we fought a terrible civil war in which hundreds of thousands of American died. And the reason for that war was slavery.
Let it also not be forgotten that America has fought in more wars for the freedom of other peoples than any nation in history.
America’s history is one that we can be proud of.
We now close with one more ritual. Let each of us sign our names to the Declaration of Independence. While it is a replica of the one our founders signed, the words and sentiments are eternal.
I found a Declaration of Independence online and we signed our names.
Everyone present signs their name to the Declaration of Independence. As each one signs, the host hands each person the lyrics to “God Bless America.”
Happy Birthday, America. Happy Fourth of July. Now let’s eat.
Then Daddy barbecued filet mignons and I made shrimp cocktail.
Cooper just watched the whole thing in enjoyment.
Quite the special and fun day. I’m so grateful for our country and my family. God Bless America!
