Can you hear them? Can you see them? Can you imagine the courage it required for these men, our founding fathers, to gather together 234 years ago in Philadelphia on July 4th to declare our independence?
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“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,…” 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence in this very room. They risked everything for their beliefs. Some paid with their lives before we finally gained our freedom.
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The Liberty Bell tolled on July 8, 1776 to call the citizens of Philadelphia together for the first reading of the Declaration of Independence (or so tradition tells us). Visit The Liberty Bell to read the history.
I took these photos back in 1970 or 1971 (I don’t remember which) when everyone had free access to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell was on display within the building. I’ve been saving them for the right time and remembered them last night as I sat thinking and reflecting.
“…that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness — That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness…”
Hi John, these pictures are beautiful and so was the founding of this wonderful country. I wish today’s political leaders were more like our founding fathers instead of the antithesis. Thankfully we have the freedom to vote. I for one can’t wait Thank you founding fathers!
An appropriate post for this weekend.
Billiant my friend. The pictures are beautiful. Thanks for sharing the information. Happy 4th of July to you and your family
Wonderfully written and perfectly complimented with the images. Your timing could not be better!
What a beautiful post!
Happy 4th of July John!
A wonderful post! Love the atmospheric tones of the first photo especially!
Always enjoy both your photos and your words. Good post.
Nice tribute to the holiday.
Happy 4 of July.
It didn’t seem so long ago when I was in Windsor Canada watching your Bi centennial. Where were you in 1976?
I hope the Fourth of July is a joyous one for you!
Reflections of a profound kind.
Lovely photos – liberty is so precious – many these days don’t have it and others just don’t appreciate what others have done for them down through history. Have a lovely weekend.
That is quite a moving tributary post from you. This old sentimental lady got tears in her eyes just imagining how those poor souls of the forefathers lost their lives in the name of freedom that the present and living generations now uphold and enjoy yet sadly many have abused. That freedom by no means has affected the whole world then and now and tomorrow.
You make a very significant Weekend Reflections, so nostalgic, so patriotic.
Different and interesting reflections! Thanks for visiting my Aminus3-blog.