-Isms: Original views on life in rural America

This is my favorite time of year.

Sweet summer is in full swing, sun lights the sky until late evening, we fire up the grill nightly and outdoor activities occupy spare time.

Summertime means my favorite holiday is only a few days away.

I have always preferred the Fourth of July to other holidays. It reminds me of family time, baseball games, picnic lunches, swimming and fireworks.

What’s more perfect than that?

My all-time favorite Fourth story includes a family softball game at my grandparents’ farm. All aunts, uncles and cousins were there, and after the evening meal, we divided into two teams and worked our way through the batting order a few times.

Our playing field: the lane to the farm; first base: the yard light encased in a brick planter. A downhill slope lead to second base and it was an upward climb to land at the garage, which designated third base.

After the battle, we piled into the back of Grandpa’s International Harvester pickup and made the four-mile trek to town to watch fireworks, a perfect ending to a fun-filled day.

I’m grateful for the ability to celebrate our country’s freedom with family and friends.

Think you know a lot about the history of the Fourth of July? Did you know (or learn in school) America actually gained its independence on July 2, 1776, according to Kenneth C. Davis, author of the “Don’t Know Much About” series.

In a July 3rd letter to his wife, Abigail, John Adams wrote that July 2 will go down in history since it’s the day this country declared its independence. It wasn’t until July 4 that Congress voted to accept Jefferson’s declaration. The document wasn’t signed until August 2.

On the country’s first birthday, 13 fireworks rockets kicked off the evening’s light display. Another 13 concluded the show.

Jefferson also changed wording of the Declaration of Independence. Originally, the document boasted life, liberty and the pursuit of property. Instead, he ditched the last part of that line and changed it to “the pursuit of happiness.”

Two original framers of the constitution died on July 4. Adams and Jefferson died on that day in 1826, 50 years after writing the document. President James Monroe died on July 4, in 1831.

Calvin Coolidge was born on July 4, 1872. He became president in 1923, following the untimely death of President Warren G. Harding.

In addition to John Hancock, only one other individual signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. It wasn’t Jefferson or Adams. Secretary of Congress, Charles Thompson, inked his name.

Remember the scene in Nicolas Cage’s movie, National Treasure, when he snags the Declaration of Indepedence from the National Archives? Jefferson’s original draft of the document was lost. The paper signed is a final - or engrossed - copy of the document. The print version is called the Dunlap Broadside. Two hundred documents were printed, but only 27 have been found.

Many of us believe the Liberty Bell symbolizes our nation’s birthday. Wrong. Pennsylvania’s Assembly ordered the bell made in 1751, to commemorate the anniversary of William Penn’s Charter of Privileges. According to Davis, the bell didn’t earn its name until the 1830s.

While celebrating during this three-day weekend, take time to remember sacrifices made to guarantee freedoms we enjoy today. Most of all, cherish time with family and friends.

Happy Independence Day!