Today, America

is 225 years old. Heck, if you ask me, we don't look a day over 200.

On July 4,

1776, the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pa., signed the Declaration

of Independence, officially declaring a break with England. The Continental

Congress was formed two years earlier with delegates from the 13 colonies.

There was a growing sense of unease as the colonists were being overtaxed

without any form of representation from the English government, led by

King George III.

In April 1775,

British troops began advancing on Concord, Mass., which was an unofficial

beginning to the Revolutionary War. The Continental Congress met a few

months later and tried to find ways to work with the British and avoid

going to war. Their bids for peace were unsuccessful and the colonists

began to increase the fighting.

a committee within the Continental Congress, including members Thomas

Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, began drafting the Declaration

of Independence. Nine of the colonies accepted the declaration, while

two colonies, South Carolina and Pennsylvania, voted against it. Delaware

and New York abstained. John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress,

signed the declaration first and allegedly wrote his name large so that

King George wouldn't need to use his spectacles to see his name.

Later that

week the declaration was read to people in Philadelphia. The crowds cheered

at the words and what is now the Liberty Bell rang out. July 4, 1777,

the first Independence Day celebrations began and by the 1800s people

were having picnics, parades and fireworks to celebrate the forming of

this nation.

The Fourth

of July celebrates our independence from British rule and honors the heroes

who decided to stand up for what they believed in. It is easy to see figures

like Jefferson and Franklin as fictional characters, but they were real

men who faced a real dilemma and helped forge a strong character for this

nation.

We, as a nation,

should enjoy our holiday with picnics, parties and fireworks but we should

also reflect on the courage of our forefathers.

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