Every year on this date, I post this:

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

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.

As is my custom, I’ll be heading out to Fort Lee to celebrate the Fourth on an Army base, surrounded by soldiers, flags, and extremely happy and patriotic Americans.

Last year’s pictures.
2004 pictures.

And tomorrow, this year’s pictures. You can see a sneak peek here, which is a picture of the flag-lined stands where I get to watch the soldiers march.

There will be much John Philip Soussa music today. Dial up the corn, and sing along with “Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue.” (I always do the duck version, because I don’t know the real lyrics. That website actually mentions it by name. Heh.)

Judith of Kesher Talk has created a Fourth of July playlist.

And a happy Fourth of July to my fellow Americans.