Really!  What happened to Independence Day?  For the past few days, all I've heard is "Happy 4th of July" or "have a Happy 4th".  All the store signs read "Have a Happy 4th of July".  Why not the 10th of July?  Why not the 23rd of July?  For those of you with a public school education obtained anytime in the last 20 years in America, I'll explain.  July 4th, 1776 was the date our founding fathers bravely, and to many of their ruin, signed a bold document intended to proclaim America's independence from English rule.  Here's just a taste of the document;

In Congress, July 4, 1776

THE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION OF THE THIRTEEN
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

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.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men,
deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

In our little town, on the outskirts of San Antonio, Texas, we held our annual city-wide picnic and parade, replete with Sheriff's Mounted Posse, Viet Nam Veterans Club provided the Color Guard as the Cub Scouts raised the flag on the pole.  In the background our local barbar shop quartet "3 Hits and a Miss" (one woman, three men) sang the Star Spangled Banner a capella.  The air was heavy with impending rain and the scents of the Lions Club popcorn machine.  Our women's club was there to sell brownies, and more Lions Club members were nearby barbecuing hamburgers and hot dogs.  All food was based on "donation" basis.  It seems we make more money when we don't put prices, and just allow folks to put in what they feel it's worth to them. 

The rain held off until the classic cars (mostly convertibles with tops down), float (first one we've had!), the mounted posse (what's a parade without horses?) and their police escorts had travelled their route, and were on their way back to the park where shelter awaited.  Despite the rain, my little town had a wonderful Independence Day celebration!