LiveSmart 360 Honors Our American Independence.

At what price freedom?

In honor of the principles of freedom championed by our noble forebears, and in deference to their and all other unselfish sacrifices to secure our liberties, LiveSmart 360′s corporate offices will be closed from 8:00pm ET, Tuesday, July 3, to 8:00am Thursday, July 5, as we celebrate our American Independence.

Family picnics and fireworks displays are certainly in order, but let us not forget what the occasion commemorates or the price that it cost then and continues to extract now.

” . . . When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.  . . .

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.  . . .

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, 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; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
- The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.

___________________________

One year later, a newspaper reported on the Celebration which occurred on the First Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Note especially the closing line.

. . . The glorious fourth of July was reiterated three times accompanied with triple discharges of cannon and small arms, and loud huzzas that resounded from street to street through the city.

Towards evening several troops of horse, a corps of artillery, and a brigade of North Carolina forces, which was in town on its way to join the grand army, were drawn up in Second street and reviewed by Congress and the General Officers.

Our heartfelt thanks to all of our selfless Service Men and Women and their families for helping make our freedom possible.

The evening was closed with the ringing of bells, and at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks, which began and concluded with thirteen rockets on the commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated. Every thing was conducted with the greatest order and decorum, and the face of joy and gladness was universal.  Thus may the 4th of July, that glorious and ever memorable day, be celebrated through America, by the sons of freedom, from age to age till time shall be no more. Amen, and amen. – Virginia Gazette, July 18, 1777

________________________________