🇺🇸 Happy 250th, America! 🇺🇸 Today, we celebrate the birth of the greatest nation this earth has ever known: the United States of America.
250 years ago, on July 4th, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was unanimously approved by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. This document, primarily written by Thomas Jefferson with the assistance of John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Robert Livingston of New York, and Roger Sherman of Connecticut, contains many words we, as Americans, know by heart:
“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.”
This idea was truly revolutionary and unheard of in human history. For centuries, rights were believed to be granted by monarchs or governments. The Declaration boldly proclaimed something entirely different: our rights come not from any earthly ruler, but from God Himself. This principle forever changed the course of history and established a foundation of freedom that continues to be a beacon for all freedom-loving people.
Our founding principles have led America to be truly exceptional, allowing us to grow and strive toward becoming a more perfect union. Further, America has been the most powerful force for lifting people out of poverty in the history of the world, creating unmatched opportunities for innovation, economic growth, and upward mobility that have improved the lives of millions both here at home and around the globe.
But the liberty we cherish today was secured at a tremendous cost. Generations of brave men and women have laid down their lives, endured hardship, and borne the weight of defending this nation so that others could live in freedom. Their sacrifice is the true price of our independence, paid on battlefields from Yorktown to Gettysburg, Normandy to Iwo Jima. As we celebrate, we must honor their legacy by remaining steadfast in our sacred duty to preserve what they fought for. We must defend the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution and ensure that the American Dream remains within reach for future generations. Our nation’s strength comes from free people, free enterprise, strong families, steadfast faith in God, and our local communities willing to stand for what is right.
Get out and celebrate today. Whether you were present at the midnight Independence Day Parade in Gatlinburg, plan on attending the Patriot Fest in Pigeon Forge, will watch fireworks from a boat on Flat Creek on Douglas Lake, or celebrate at a cookout with family and friends in Seymour, take a moment to thank God for the blessing that is the United States of America, our home sweet home! I am grateful to God to call this country my home and for the ability to raise my family in such a special place.
Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸 God Bless America!
