A signatory of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams wrote in the summer of 1776 to his wife Abigail that he believed Independence Day “will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival … 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.”
With the exception of certain years since 1776 in which national emergencies were ongoing, including a couple of pandemics, celebration of the 4th of July has been a staple of American life.
After a scare, the Leland Chamber of Commerce will best hosting fireworks Wednesday night at Hancock Field. The chamber’s biggest fundraiser, the annual Food and Wine Festival, was canceled this year. This put the chamber in a bind as the lost revenue put the fireworks in jeopardy. However, a successful fundraising drive, a grassroots effort, raised the money to go on with the pyrotechnic show.
At this point in U.S. history, when Americans seem to be as politically and socially divided as they have been in many decades, it’s worth noting that Independence Day is about as non-controversial and non-partisan a celebration as any. The day is observed with equal enthusiasm by Republicans and Democrats.
The second President of the United States, John Adams was a member of the Federalist Party. And, of course, much more has changed since the 18th Century than party Affiliation. Ten of our first 12 presidents were slave owners.
John Adams and his son, John Quincy Adams, were the only exceptions.
It wasn’t until after the Civil War that the U.S. Congress made July 4 a federal holiday. It didn’t become a paid holiday for federal employees until 1941.
Back in 1777, the first organized celebration of Independence Day was held in Philadelphia and included a 13-gun salute by a ship’s cannon in honor of the 13 colonies. The Pennsylvania Evening post reported: “at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks (which began and concluded with 13 rockets) on the Commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated.”
We expect that parts of Leelanau County will be “beautifully illuminated” as well over the coming holiday, with red-white-and-blue buntings, flags, parades and fireworks.
“You will think me transported with enthusiasm but I am not,” John Adams wrote to his wife in 1776. “I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasurer that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these states.”
It isn’t entirely clear this summer how a deeply divided American population might move forward together in the months and years ahead — just as it wasn’t clear to Adams or anyone else in 1776 whether the American experiment would succeed or fail.
“Through all the gloom, I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory,” Adams wrote. “I can see that the end is more than worth all the means – and that posterity will triumph.”
Here’s hoping that Adams will be proven correct this year.
