Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

a scan from my own collection...please feel free to copy for your own personal use

Most Americans recognize the familiar words of:

 "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."

  These are words that appear in our Declaration of Independence. Beyond that, I'm not sure how much of this document, I, or others could recite if asked to do so. But in honor of this much celebrated holiday here in America I grabbed an enhanced copy of The Declaration of Independence from www.ushistory.org.

The original, measuring 29 3/4" x 24 1/2" is now very faded according to this same source as a result of not being properly stored for so many years. Obviously, this copy that has been digitally enhanced isn't exactly legible either. However, if you would like to read this document in its entirety, click here.

Rebecca Ersfeld for Vintage Living has a wonderful post for the Fourth of July! If you have a minute it is worth the read. It talks about the price of freedom... It begins with the words: Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Personally, I find these types of trivia/info to be very enlightening. Speaking of which, I also thought this fact copied from the ushistory site noted above to be quite interesting...

"In a remarkable series of coincidences, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two founding fathers of the United States and the only two men who signed the Declaration of Independence to become president, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the United States' 50th anniversary."

And if you have even more time, and would like to see another creative take on the Fourth of July click here.

Here's wishing all you American bloggers a delightful Fourth of July weekend; but to all of mankind, regardless of nationality, may you enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness!

Xo, Sue

Comments

[~*~Patty]

meant to say in my last comment FABULOUS blog header you created Missy!

Happy Fourth of July to you and yours! Off to check out your links ... thanks as always for sharing so sweetly dear Sue!
oxo

[Mrs. Magpie]

Happy Fourth, Sue! Loved this post. I can still remember most of the Declaration as well as the Preamble to the Constitution, and it always makes me weepy to recite it. I carry them with me in my heart!

Blessings to you and yours...

XOXOXO,

Sheila :-)

[Autumn Clark]

A very happy celebration to you and yours too!
xx,
Autumn Clark

[Jordans Sneakers]

Your blog speech, let a person moved!

[coach sale]

I knew little in this part before,thank you for you information!Best wishes for you and happiness throughout the everyday.

[Lovey]

"Here,Here!"