Yes, the day (date) has come and gone, for yet another year.

For some, it was not just the date. It was a recognition - and an honoring of another 4th of July. That date is preserved as Independence Day. A much earlier Congress of these united States of American established that to reflect the date of the very first PUBLIC reading of that document.

That was the product of something over two months of work, involving near-daily meeting and discussion of issues regarding the attitudes of then King George III of England or the British Isles or whatever all the proper titles were.

Those months produced the document that 56 people, representatives of the then thirteen colonies established and growing during the years between 1620 and 1776, struggled with to come to unanimous agreement and signed their names too. Such was the birth of this country.

Now, in this year, the fun and games, fireworks, picnics, parades, huzzahs, and all the rest, there are few who only are aware of the fun and games. Not the history.

The last time I did a survey was three years ago. I was surprised then, that the Declaration was read in public in only 44 communities in the whole country! Several in or near Boston, of course, a few in some nearby states, 40 of them East of the Mississippi, and none west of us here in Arizona.

How about this year? Was the Declaration of Independence read aloud in a public setting open to all in your community?

If so, and you can attest to that, please send a note to that effect to Independence, Post Office Box 2303, Payson AZ 85547.

Thanks. You count for Freedom, and Liberty for those strong enough to preserve it!!

'Til next year!!!

AZLew