Cities and towns all over America have their own unique ways of celebrating the Fourth of July. Families and friends get together and have picnics; they watch parades and hear patriotic speeches; listen to patriotic music; see displays of the flag and watch big ships in the harbor (if they live near the coast), play games, hold family reunions and participate in special contests, and at the end of a long, fun day, watch fireworks explode from one end of the sky to the other.

But...do you know the real reason behind all of the celebration? It isn't about the food or fireworks (although that's a tradition on the Fourth).
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July 4th, 1776.

The colonists of the original thirteen colonies are weary, bone weary. They've been under the subjugation of Britain for years. They have to live in fear of the British soldiers; they are under the rule of King George III. They have to abide by laws that have been enacted (which are blatently unfair to them), and have to pay taxes; the British seem to be getting richer, while they are getting poorer.

They've decided to do something about it.

This is the day that they adopt the Declaration of Independence, which will allow them to finally break from the rule of Britain, and will allow them to have their own government.

The colonists are tired of the British, and they decide they are not going to be pushed around any more.

This Declaration states that a government should be run by the wishes of the people and for the people. If this doesn't happen, the people have the right to revolt. This means FREEDOM for the United States of America and its citizens.
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This is the main reason we celebrate the Fourth of July--FREEDOM.

We are free to live our lives the way we choose.

We are free to celebrate in the way we see fit.

We are free to believe the way we want to.

We are free to come and go.

We are free to say what we want, without fear of repercussion.

We are free to spend our money the way we want. (Although we still pay taxes!)

Thank God for our freedoms. They are not to be taken lightly.

Although we are free, let's not intrude on other's freedoms, and be respectful of others.