OCR Text |
Show f i i Independence Our Priceless Heritage July 4, 1932 marks' the one hundred fifty sixth birthday of the United States of America; February 22, 1932 marked the two hundredth birthday of the Father of Our Country, Coun-try, and June 14, 1932, the one hundred hund-red fifty-fifth birthday of "Old Glory." In tribute to these events we as a nation today are preparing to celebrate cele-brate "Independence Day" in the I spirit of those Sires of '76. We will fly our Star Spangled Banner in admiration ad-miration and gratitude for the priceless price-less heritage they bequeathed to us. We should highly resolve to be worthy of the gift and to transmit it unsullied to posterity. On July 4, 1776, the Liberty Bell rang out the decision of Congress to Philadelphia. Celebrations were held everywhere in honor of the Declaration Declara-tion of Independence, as it meant absolute ab-solute independence from all authority author-ity of crown, parliament, or nation, for the thirteen colonies. At the time John Adams was in Paris and he wrote his wife, saying, "Independence "Independ-ence Day should be solemnized with pomp, and parade, sports, games, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of the country to the other from this time forward forever more." And in this manner have succeeding succeed-ing generations celebrated it annually annual-ly on the Fourth of July as the Great American Anniversary Festival. It has, through time, lost much of its hazardousi carryins-on, but its glamor, its spectacle, its significance is just as great today. This government instituted by the "Sons of Liberty" to insure "Life, Li-i berty and the pursuit of Happiness" has caused some departures from the old method of celebrating the nation's na-tion's birthday, but the Spirit of '76 is just as strong as it ever was, and as each Fourth of July passes it assumes as-sumes new meaning and brings back memories of George Washington, the Father of his Country, and it is fitting fit-ting and proper for us to excel ourselves our-selves this year in celebrating Independence Inde-pendence Day, as well as his BiCen-tential, BiCen-tential, and remember when the first "Old Glory" rose over the thirteen original states along the Atlantic seaboard sea-board with only three million people to pay allegiance to it. Today it floats over, forty-eight states extending extend-ing across the continent, and over great islands of the two oceans and one hundred thirty-eight million peo-j pie owe it allegiance. IT has been brought to this proud position by love and sacrifice. Citizens Citi-zens have advanced it and heroes have died for it. It is the sign made visible of the strong spirit that has brought liberty liber-ty and prosperity to the American people. It is the Flag of all of us alike; let us accord it honor and loyalty. It embodies the essence of patriotism!. patriot-ism!. Its spirit is the spirit of the American nation. Its history is the" j history of the American people. Em- j blasoned upon its folds in letters of living light are the names and fame of our heroic dead the Fathers of the Republic who laid upon its altars al-tars their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. Twice told tales of national honor and glory cluster around it, ever victorious vic-torious it has emerged from eight great national conflicts. It flew at Saratoga, at Yorktown, at Palo Alto, at Gettysburg, at Manilla Bay, and at Chateau-Theirry, and its meaning is for us to live lives in keeping with the American creed it .stands for, which is PATRIOTISM. We must believe in the United States Sta-tes of America as a government of the people, whose just powers are derived de-rived from the consent of the government; gov-ernment; a democracy in a Republic; a perfect Union, one and inseparable: established upon those principles of Freedom, Equality, Justice and Humanity, Hu-manity, for which our American patriots pat-riots sacrificed their lives and their fortunes. I It is our duty to our Country to love it, support its constitutions, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend its against all enemies, and to keep our hearts full of Patriotism and love by observing our Natal Day. |