America's Birthday

Special Report - July 4, 2012
Today marks the 236th birthday of “the shining city on a hill”—President Ronald Reagan’s affectionate term for the United States of America. In a hot, humid, crowded room in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence. It was a bold step, not just in the formation of a new nation, but in human history. With the adoption of the Declaration, the American colonies declared themselves free from British rule. The opening of that document rings as powerfully true today as it did more than two centuries ago.

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.--That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

As Americans across both the nation and world pause to remember the great blessings bestowed on both this unique nation and her unique people, we here at the North Carolina Family Policy Council pray that you and your families enjoy today as a time of renewal and reflection. In a special way, we thank those individuals and families who have been willing to, and ultimately made, the greatest sacrifice for the protection and advancement of justice and liberty for all.

Below are some interesting, and, perhaps, lesser known patriotic facts.

Americans by the Numbers:

• In July 1776, there were an estimated 2.5 million residents of the United States.
• In July 2012, there are an estimated 313.9 million estimated residents of the United States.

Patriotic Places in the United States:

• 31 places have “liberty” in their name. Liberty, Missouri is the most populous one.
• 35 places have “eagle” in their name. Eagle Pass, Texas is the most populous one.
• 11 places in the United States have “independence” in their name. Independence, Missouri is the most populous.
• Nine places have “freedom” in their name. New Freedom, Pennsylvania is the most populous.
• Five places have “America” in their name. American Fork, Utah is the most populous.
• Patriot, Indiana is the only city with “patriot” in its name.

American Flags:

• American flags are continuously flown 24 hours a day at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland; the United States Marine Corp Memorial (Iwo Jima) in Arlington, Virginia; on the Battle Green in Lexington, Massachusetts; and over the White House.
• An even 50 U.S. flags are flown 24 hours a day at the Washington Monument.

Copyright © 2012. North Carolina Family Policy Council. All rights reserved.