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Dear Neighbor,
Happy Independence Day! It's an expression we associate with the joyous celebration of the freedoms we all enjoy. Summer grill outs, fireworks, family, and friends will be common themes in all of our weekend celebrations. Our nation has been richly blessed by God over the course of its history.
It is important, though, that we remember what Independence Day meant to the founders of 1776. War with Britain had sprung from Massachusetts the preceding year and was spreading. By declaring independence from Britain, the founders drew targets on their own lives and homes.
To be certain, several of the signers did suffer for their patriotism. Richard Stockton, a signer from New Jersey, was imprisoned, beaten, lost his home, and died a short time later. John Hart, also of New Jersey, who housed 12,000 revolutionary soldiers, was hunted by Hessian soldiers and died of illness before the end of the war. Thomas Heyward, Arthur Middleton, and Edward Rutledge, all signers who served in the South Carolina militia, were captured during the war and returned to find their homes and livelihoods plundered.
These are just a few examples of the many sacrifices made for our freedom, not to mention the countless veterans that have served, past and present, to defend the freedom secured by the founders. So, while we celebrate our independence through our American festivities this Fourth of July, let's take a moment to remember those who gave selflessly over the past 240 years.
From my family to yours, Happy Independence Day! May God continue to bless our great state and nation.
- Chris
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Celebrating Our Freedom in Waukesha County
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Be sure to take your family and friends out to see some fireworks in Waukesha County this Independence Day! The following times and locations of fireworks and other events in our area, courtesy of The Waukesha Freeman.
Saturday, July 2
Town of Eagle: Fourth of July boat parade and fireworks, 7:30 p.m., Eagle Spring Lake
Lac La Belle: Fourth of July fireworks, 9:45 p.m., west end of Lac La Belle
Delafield: Fourth of July fireworks, at dusk, St. John's Island
New Berlin: Fourth of July festival, noon to 11 p.m., Malone Park, 16400 West Al Stigler Parkway
Sunday, July 3
Menomonee Falls: Independence Day parade and fireworks, 7 p.m., Starts at Appleton Avenue
Muskego: Fireworks show, 9:30 p.m., Idle Isle Park, W182-S6666 Hardtke Drive
Monday, July 4
Town of Brookfield: Fourth of July picnic and parade, 9 a.m. to noon, Marx Park, 700 South Barker Road
Town of Oconomowoc: Fourth of July fireworks show, at dusk, July 4, Okauchee Lake
Butler: Independence Day parade, 2 p.m.
Elm Grove: Family Fun Fest in Village Park, 8:30 a.m., Gazebo #1, Village Park, 13600 Juneau Blvd
Chenequa: Fourth of July fireworks, at dusk, At Pine Lake, Beaver Lake and North Lake
Pewaukee: Fourth of July fireworks, at dusk, Pewaukee Lake
Sussex: Fourth of July parade, 9:30 a.m., Maple Avenue. Fireworks at 9:20 p.m. at Sussex Village Park
Waukesha: Fourth of July parade, 11 a.m., Cutler Park 321 Wisconsin Ave. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
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Traveling Wisconsin This Summer?
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Looking for some fun travel destinations close to home?
TravelWisconsin.com offers complimentary travel guides, event guides, fair guides, and many other travel resources. Looking for recreation? Travel Wisconsin also offers biking guides, campground directories, and golf course directories.
These are just a few of the resources available for free either by mail or PDF download. Click here to request a guide to ensure you can enjoy everything Wisconsin has to offer this summer.
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Independence Day in History
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1776 - The Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence.
1802 - The U.S. Military Academy opens at West Point, New York.
1826 - John Adams, age ninety, and Thomas Jefferson, age eighty-three, die.
1831 - James Monroe, the fifth U.S. president, dies at age seventy-three.
1872 - Calvin Coolidge, the thirtieth U.S. president, is born in Plymouth, Vermont.
1959 - A forty-ninth star is added to the flag to represent the new state of Alaska.
1960 - A fiftieth star is added to the flag to represent the new state of Hawaii.
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