We circle back, as we've done now for 250 years, to celebrate the important days of the beginning of July that are at the heart of the founding of the United States of America. It is a momentous story of what led to those days and what resulted from them.
After Britain emerged victorious from multiple years of war with France in 1763, a big shift occurred on the North American continent. Britain began meddling more in colonial affairs, particularly through increased taxation. Colonists protested such infringements because they had no representation in Parliament that decided on the taxes. Eventually, warfare began on April 19, 1775, near Boston, Massachusetts.
Over the course of another year, momentum for independence of the colonies increased in the Continental Congress. On Friday, June 7, 1776, Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee made this historic proposal: "Resolved. That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."
While Congress took a few weeks to consider it, a committee was formed to draft a statement should Congress vote to approve independence. Thomas Jefferson was the primary author.
On July 1, Congress resumed debate, and after several hours, most of the colonies favored independence, but the Congress hadn't reached unanimity. They decided to hold another vote the following day. Several circumstances came together overnight and on the following day, Tuesday, July 2, 1776, Congress voted unanimously to approve the independence resolution. Subsequently, the delegates discussed the draft statement. On Thursday, July 4, 1776, they adopted the Declaration of Independence. Its first public reading was on July 8.
War continued for several more years, and after a decisive American victory at Yorktown, owing to help from the French forces, the focus turned toward a treaty. On September 3, 1783, the Treaty of Paris 1783 was official, and the USA became an independent country.
There is something so inspiring about this story, and I find it meaningful throughout the month of June to read a wonderful book, which is basically a museum in a book, telling the story of the events that led to Independence, with some content that describes what came afterward.
It's also a profound opportunity to connect with this story whenever I visit the Old Pennsylvania Statehouse, Independence Hall in Philadelphia. I fulfilled my desire to visit there after a long wait when I made my first visit there 10 years ago last month. Since June 11, 2016, I have toured it 3 times, and I never tire of doing so. Each tour offers a different narration based on the tour guide leading it. Furthermore, being in that place that was the setting for such pivotal events inspires a sense of patriotism in me.
It's just like when I visit the Charters of Freedom in the Rotunda of the National Archives Museum in Washington, D.C. I always make a point of visiting there during each trip to WDC. This past May, I kept feeling drawn to walk about to look at the documents one more time, like I couldn't get enough of viewing them. And I was particularly struck when I gazed at the Declaration of Independence and let the reality sink in that the piece of paper is 250 years old and continues to hold a sense of power. Watching the episode of Liberty's Kids on independence, a big idea that surfaces is the power of words, which is why great effort was made to craft the language of the Declaration. And these words still hold great power today.
There's something certainly distinct about this year's celebration as we mark 250 years since the Congress voted for independence and adopted the Declaration of Independence. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Independence of the United States, I am particularly inspired by the reality that this country came into existence grounded in principles.
I thought about these principles when I listened to Bishop Barron's oration at the Rededicate America 250 event on May 17 in Washington, D.C. He is such a gifted person, especially in preaching Truth, Beauty, and Goodness that God reveals in our world. On that day, he spoke masterfully about how the founding principles of the USA point toward the transcendent reality of God, Who has created us inherently free. Yet we can only live in freedom truly if we do so with a sense of moral responsibility that is indicated by moral law so that freedom leads to true human flourishing. Indeed, we need virtues to uphold the great gift of our founding principles, especially liberty and freedom, just like John Adams wrote, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people".
These ideas were also prevalent during the Zeale for America 250 Rally hosted by CatholicVote on June 13, in LaCrosse, WI. (The video of the entire event, about 3 hours long, is available for viewing here.) Cardinal Burke spoke and offered an insightful idea about patriotism, which is love of country, based on an awareness that the country is an important defender of the common good. Truly, we love our country because it has the role of upholding the good of all people, safeguarding the freedom that is ours because God has created us to be free. When we live in freedom, guided by virtue, we truly flourish.
It was so fitting that the US bishops consecrated the USA to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as part of this 250th Anniversary year. The Sacred Heart reveals love to us, and gives us an example of how we can love by edifying each other by willing the good of one another. In serving each other this way, we truly flourish as a people in the freedom that God has granted us. We furthermore flourish when we support our freedoms with virtues, so that we can fulfill our moral responsibility in using our freedom for a greater good beyond ourselves that honors God because it shows respect for people who bear His image. We give thanks for the freedom we experience in this country, which is a gift and a responsibility.
In reaction to the Congressional vote that approved independence, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail, "The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."
Even as circumstances unfolded so that July 4 became the national holiday, I embrace this time of year as an opportunity to reconnect with the narrative of the steps that led to the founding of the United States of America, and how we can continue participating in what happened 250 years.
This holiday gives us so much to celebrate, and in a distinctly profound way this year. We live in a great country founded in timeless principles, and we have the opportunity to exercise those for a greater good. These principles started a nation, and they have contributed throughout 2 1/2 centuries over hundreds of miles of land. Over 20 years ago, my Grandma's friend gave me a USA tour video, and I enjoyed it so much the first time that it's become an annual tradition to watch on July 2 or at some other point in the summer to celebrate the birthday of the USA. The video reminds me of the vast breadth of places and cultures in our country, all tied together by our founding principles, and I feel inspired by how wonderful this country is. The principles of our independence have great potential to offer us more as we take up the call to use freedom for a greater, transcendent purpose by which we may all flourish.
I hope you all feel the patriotic spirit that birthed a nation in a particularly special way on this 250th Anniversary of US independence, throughout the rest of 2026, and beyond.
God bless the beautiful United States of America!
Huzzah!
Go USA! USA! USA!
For our amazing country,
Paul
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| My first visit to Independence Hall, inside the Assembly Room. |
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| During my most recent visit to Independence Hall, on May 23, 2025. |
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| During my most recent visit to the Charters of Freedom in the National Archives museum in Washington, D.C., taken by my Dad. |
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| Inside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, dedicated to the Patroness Saint of the USA, taken by a fellow visitor. |
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| I'm standing beside the Freedom 250 Mobile Museum, parked by the LaCrosse Center when I was there for the rally on June 13, in a photo taken by a fellow visitor. |
P.S. On the morning of July 4 at 9 AM CT, I plan to watch the ceremony at the National Archives, which you can view here.
This post is my annual Patriotic Greetings reflection, which I have published electronically on my blog since 2013. If you would like a paper copy, please let me know.
