On 3 July, John Adams penned these words to his wife, Abigail:

“The Second Day of July 1776 will be the most memorable Epocha in the history of America…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, with Shews [sic], Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other, from this Time forward forever more.”

He refers to 2 July as the day when a resolution by Richard Henry Lee, a delegate from Virginia, was passed; work to finalize the Declaration of Independence was underway. He was off by a couple days on the “Pomp and Parade” thing, as we now celebrate the signing of the final version of the Declaration of Independence on the Fourth of July. But throughout the years, Americans have gathered to celebrate this historic event with family, friends, and community. Do you have a Fourth of July tradition? What are your memories of the holiday from your childhood? Perhaps you even have photographs of yourself and/or family members that you could chronicle. Take some time to record your family’s patriotism, traditions, your memories, and your thoughts on the holiday.

For more history of the holiday, see the following article from Forbes.com:
The American Dream: The History of the Fourth of July, by Mark Lewis

(Photo: Juliana and her sisters at a 4th of July parade—many, many moons ago!)