Light/Breezes

Light/Breezes
SUNRISE AT DEATH VALLEY-Photo by Tom Cochrun

Monday, July 4, 2011

INDEPENDENCE

A UNIQUELY AMERICAN DAY
Do your self a great favor today.
Take a couple of minutes to read
the Declaration of Independence by linking here.
Here's something to add to your conversation at a barbecue or party today.
Two of the framers and signers of the Declaration
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the second and third 
Presidents of the US, died on July 4th 1826, the 
50th Anniversary of the signing.
Both men had been ill.  Jefferson asked his doctor
"Is it the Fourth yet?"
"It soon will be," Robley Dunglison replied.
Later Jefferson awoke to say,
"I resign my spirit to God, my daughter to my country."
Adams was asked if he knew what day it was.
"Oh yes.  It is the glorious Fourth of July. It is a great day. It is a good day. God Bless it.  God Bless you all."
He lapsed into unconsciousness. Later he awoke and said
"Thomas Jefferson.  Thomas Jefferson survives."
Actually Jefferson had died a couple of hours earlier.
It remains an amazing coincidence that the two men, infirmed and dying  held on to life until the 50th Anniversary 
of perhaps America's greatest day.
Happy Independence Day!
See you down the trail.



4 comments:

  1. Actually, Jefferson and Adams both died on JULY 4th, 1826.

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  2. Got it! Thanks man! will make the correction. Whew! It was late I guess and I had been fighting the cable system!!!

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  3. And John Quincy Adams was one of the Founding Fathers ...

    ... in the Michele Bachmann version of things ...

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  4. Joey-
    So that version goes. But I'll stay away from that revisionist view, JQ was too young to be a father...
    thanks for the comment.

    ReplyDelete