Welcome to the Jersey Cats Emporium
Happy Fourth of July
Jesus on the 4th of July
by
Marilyn Ferguson
We gather ‘round to celebrate
On Independence Day
Pay homage to our country
As the children run and play.
With barbeques and picnics
And fireworks in the air
The flag we own is proudly flown
To show how much we care.
The stars and stripes spell freedom
She waves upon the breeze
While bursts of colors can be seen
Above the towering trees.
This is all quite wonderful
We revel in delight
But God above in divine love
Has brought this day to light.
With just a stroke of liberty
A touch of His great hand
He gave democracy to us
And helped this country stand.
The stripes upon our stately flag
Were touched by His sweet grace
Each star of white that shines so bright
Reflects His loving face.
So as you turn to face the flag
For battles that were fought
Be filled with pride for those who died
And freedoms that were bought.
But don’t forget to thank the One
That gives the bright display
The reason why we paint the sky
On Independence Day
(c)2003 Marilyn Ferguson
Blue From
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History of the Fourth of July
Independence Day in the U.S., is an annual holiday commemorating the formal
adoption by the Continental Congress of the Declaration of Independence on
July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia. Although the signing of the Declaration was
not completed until August, the Fourth of July holiday has been accepted as
the official anniversary of U.S. independence and is celebrated in all states
and territories of the U.S.
The holiday was first observed in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776, at which time
the Declaration of Independence was read aloud, city bells rang, and bands
played. It was not declared a legal holiday, however, until 1941. The Fourth
is traditionally celebrated publicly with parades and pageants, patriotic
speeches, and organized firing of guns and cannons and displays of fireworks;
early in the 20th century public concern for a "safe and sane" holiday
resulted in restrictions on general use of fireworks. Family picnics and
outings are a feature of private Fourth of July celebrations.
Source: from History.com
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The Pledge of Allegiance
I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
and to the Republic for which it stands,
one Nation under God, indivisible,
with liberty and - for all.
 
America the Beautiful
Author, Katharine Lee Bates - written in 1913
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
Thanks for stopping by our Fourth of July Page. This is website
for Buster, Lady, and Baby Simba. Buster's story is on Page
2, Lady's story is on Page 3, and Baby Simba's story is on
Page 4. We want to tell you all about ourselves, our clubs,
our friends, and our interests. We also have set up a memorial
page for the other kitties who have gone on to the Rainbow
Bridge. Hope you will enjoy visiting us! Please sign our guest
book below. Feel Free to send us e-mail with any comments.
Thanks for visiting us!
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Here is our Navigation
Bar to get around our site:
from
Baby Simba, Lady, Buster
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History of the Fourth of July
America celebrates July 4 as Independence Day because it was on July 4, 1776,
that members of the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia,
adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence.
Spontaneous Celebrations
Following its adoption, the Declaration was read to the public in various American cities. Whenever they heard it, patriots erupted in cheers and celebrations.
In 1777, Philadelphians remembered the 4th of July. Bells were rung, guns fired, candles lighted, and firecrackers set off. However, while the War of Independence dragged on, July 4 celebrations were modest at best.
When the war ended in 1783, July 4 became a holiday in some places. In Boston,
it replaced the date of the Boston Massacre, March 5, as the major patriotic holiday. Speeches, military events, parades, and fireworks marked the day. In 1941, Congress
declared July 4 a federal holiday.
Picnics and Games
Over time, various other summertime activities also came to be associated with the
Fourth of July, including historical pageants, picnics, baseball games, watermelon-eating contests, and trips to the beach. Common foods include hot dogs, hamburgers, corn on the cob, apple pie, cole slaw, and sometimes clam bakes.
Colonial Attractions
While the Fourth is celebrated across the country, historic cities like Boston
and Philadelphia draw huge crowds to their festivities.
In Boston, the USS John F. Kennedy often sails into the harbor, while the Boston
Pops Orchestra holds a televised concert on the banks of the Charles River,
featuring American music and ending with the 1812 Overture.
Philadelphia holds its celebrations at Independence Hall, where historic scenes
are reenacted and the Declaration of Independence is read.
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More History
Though the Fourth of July is iconic to Americans, some claim
the date itself is somewhat arbitrary. New Englanders had been
fighting Britain since April 1775. The first motion in the
Continental Congress for voted unanimously, but secretly,
for independence from Great Britain on July 2 (the Lee
Resolution) and appointed Thomas Jefferson to write a draft.
The Congress reworked the draft until a little after eleven
o’clock, July 4, when twelve colonies voted for adoption
New York courteously abstained from both votes) & released
copy to the printers signed only by John Hancock, President
of the Congress, and Secretary Charles Thomson. Philadelphia
celebrated the Declaration with public readings and bonfires
on July 8. Not until August 2 would a fair printing be
signed by the members of the Congress, but even that was kept
secret to protect the members from possible British reprisals.
John Adams, credited by Thomas Jefferson as the unofficial,
tireless whip of the independence-minded, wrote to his wife
Abigail on July 3, 1776:
The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch
in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will
be celebrated by succeeding 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 shows, games, sports,
guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of
this continent to the other, from this time forward forever
more.
Modern readers commonly assume that by "illuminations", Adams
meant fireworks. Actually, he referred to the eighteenth
century custom of marking a public celebration by encouraging
householders to place alighted candle in every window. In
that streetlamp era, the effect was dramatic. Fireworks
did not enter Fourth of July celebrations until late in the
nineteenth century, mostly because they are very expensive.
Early twentith century Americans celebrated by firing guns
into the air. Towns that possessed a cannon would fire it,
and where the militia paraded, they would fire salutes.
Adams was off by two days, however. Certainly, the vote on
July 3 was the decisive act. But July 4 is the date that
Jefferson's stirring prose, as edited by the Congress,
was officially adopted and was the first day
Philadelphians heard any concrete news of independence
from the Continental Congress, as opposed to rumors
in the street about secret votes.
Source: Wikipedia.org
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