Happy Independence Day!

Enjoy Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness!

Every red-blooded, flag-waving, country-loving American knows that The Fourth of July is a day of great historic and national significance. Independence Day is a federal holiday marked by joyful celebrations in rural towns and sprawling cities across the nation. Americans show their patriotism by adorning their homes with our national flag and decorating with red, white and blue; by gathering with family and friends for barbeques, eating traditional foods like hot dogs, hamburgers and apple pie (foods that may not actually have originated in the United States); by participating in Star-Spangled concerts and marching in parades; by igniting the sky with colorful fireworks; and by venturing off on well-deserved summer vacations. But The Fourth of July – or Independence Day- marks a pivotal time in America’s history. It is the day that we officially declared our national independence and expressed our united ideals of freedom, equality and liberty in the famed Declaration of Independence.

The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important American documents ever written. The Second Continental Congress appointed “a committee of five” to author a declaration, that included Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston. While Thomas Jefferson is credited as the document’s author, creating the entire original draft, it was brought to its final form with help from John Adams and Benjamin Franklin.

The final wording and approval by the Continental Congress occurred on July 4, 1776, officially announcing the separation of the 13 colonies from Great Britain. Fifty-six representatives from the original colonies signed the document. This public declaration of independence from Great Britain is considered to be the official announcement and birth of The United States of America.

The tradition of widespread celebration of this momentous American occasion has grown over the years, and in 1941, July 4^th was declared a federal holiday. Independence Day remains an important national holiday and a symbol of American patriotism. To this day, the eloquence of Thomas Jefferson’s words are taught to American schoolchildren and remains and resounds in American hearts:

“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.”

These beliefs remain fundamental American principles that we uphold as a nation and all of us at Alliance Abroad embrace as a core value of our company.

A lesser known fact about the significance of The Fourth of July is that, fifty years after the signing of The Declaration of Independence, both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, who went on to become United States Presidents died. The American statesmen died on July 4, 1826, leaving a lasting legacy of American independence and ideals.

Happy Independence Day! Now go celebrate- eat a hot dogs, light a sparkler, wave a flag, march in a parade, love your independence, embrace your liberty and go pursue your happiness!