John Adams, one of the founding fathers, had a great deal of foresight. On July 3, 1776, he wrote his wife Abigail about the Declaration of Independence that had just been signed and said of our independence day that…

“I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival . . . it ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade . . . bonfires and illuminations (fireworks) from one end of this continent to the other, from this day forward forevermore.”

Adams rightly understood the significance of what was happening in his times and the long-lasting impact it would have for future generations. He even called for fireworks from coast to coast when the country was made up only of colonies along the Atlantic coast.

So as we celebrate this day, let us remember our great heritage and cherish our amazing freedoms!

BONUS:  If you’d like to understand the Revolutionary War better, I highly recommend watching this amazing animated map. It has narration, video segments, and animated maps that clearly and succinctly illustrate the war and how it played out. Trust me, you will not regret spending a few minutes watching this.