The Day of Deliverance [PHIL-OSOPHY]

One of my all-time favorite quotes is from what John Adams wrote from Philadelphia on July 3, 1776, to his wife Abigail. He had just helped with the passage of the Declaration of Independence after a lot of wrangling, debating, disagreeing and rewriting. The future president was a visionary concerning the importance of the date and celebrations to follow for 243 years and counting.

He wrote, "The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding generations, 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 Shews, Games, Sports, Guns Bells Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of the Continent to the other from the Time forward forever more."

For you folks who complain that the holiday shouldn't be called the Fourth of July, you're correct, because it was really July 2. Maybe we should consider saying Happy Day of Deliverance!

Adams understood that there was more to the celebration of our independence than "Bonfires and Illuminations." He was very well aware of the "Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States."

Happy Second on the Fourth in celebration of our nation's independence!

Phil Paleologos is the host of The Phil Paleologos Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Contact him at phil@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @PhilPaleologos. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.