What a great day for all Americans! A special day that celebrates, really, the changing of the world. The birth (or re-birth) of an idea on freedom and the new nation that sprung forth, one that has been the envy of most of the world for nearly 250 years. This is a day for all who cherish that idea, the one for which so many have sacrificed, that truly unites all of us.

Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! - Patrick Henry

As war broke out in the Americas in April 1775, most colonists just wanted to send a message to Great Britain and were, actually, against independence. Within a short amount of time, however, that sentiment changed with a growing spread of revolutionary sentiments, and a British governance that didn’t budge. In the Continental Congress, a meeting of representatives of all thirteen colonies, Thomas Jefferson was appointed to head up a five man team to draft a formal declaration of independence.

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

Why the 4th? Well, July 2nd, 1776 is the date the Founding Fathers decided to declare independence from Great Britain in a near unanimous vote. But, July 4th is the day the Continental Congress figured out exactly what they wanted to say and approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence. Off to the printers it went. John Hancock was the first, and possibly only, member of the Continental Congress to actually sign the Declaration on July 4th, but it didn’t take too long to get everyone signed and the document delivered to King George (sometime in November of 1776).

We Americans celebrate this day to honor that idea of freedom, the people who risked everything to make it a reality, and the birth of this country of ours.

It will be celebrated with pomp and parade, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other.” – John Adams

Did you know?:

• Even though the first White House 4th of July party was held in 1804, it wasn’t declared a federal holiday until 1938 (paid federal holiday in 1941).

• Americans consume about 150 million hot dogs on any given 4th of July.

• We spend about $1 billion on fireworks for the 4th! As well as $1.6 billion on beer & wine. (Be careful out there!)

• Three past presidents died on the 4th of July: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe. (Adams and Jefferson the same year!, believing the other would survive). Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president, was born on the 4th of July, 1831.

• We import about $4 million in American flags each year, most from China.

• When the Declaration of Independence was signed, the population of the nation was only about 2.5 million. There’s slightly more of us now.

• Legend reads that John Hancock, after the signing of the Declaration & betraying king and country, said the signers must now “all hang together.” Benjamin Franklin in response said, “We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4th, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. – Erma Bombeck

Happy Fourth of July, everyone. In the spirit of our nation’s birthday, we offer a couple of refreshing ideas to help celebrate:

The Firecracker

Chill a tall cocktail glass or mason jar

Wet rim with a lemon slice and rim the glass with colorful pop rocks

Fill glass with ice

Add 1 part grenadine first

Add 1 part raspberry vodka slowly or float with cocktail spoon

Add 4 parts blue raspberry lemonade

Sprinkle a few pop rocks into drink right before serving

Serve with crazy straw or a large blue, red or white straw

The Stars and Stripes

Chill shot glass

Add 1 part grenadine first (1/3 of shot glass)

Add 1 part heavy cream by floating with a cocktail spoon (1/3 of shot glass)

Add 1 part blue curacoa by floating with a cocktail spoon (1/3 of shot glass)