By, Michelle Hazekamp
July 4, 2022
Happy 246th Birthday to America and Freedom!
As we celebrate another year of Independence, it's hard to imagine at 246 years old, we as a nation are still yet an infant. However, our Declaration of Independence that ultimately led to the creation of our Constitutional Republic is a revolutionary achievement that has outlasted all others who have tried in similar ways. Why have we succeeded while others have not? It is because our Founding Father's not only relied solely on God and weaved Him into every aspect of their lives, they gave Him all the glory and left a legacy of glory and honor to Him, which has been passed down to each generation.
Independence Parade
Whitehall celebrated the day with their annual Independence Day Parade with grand displays of patriotic floats and a patriotic crowd. American flags were everywhere, along with patriotic clothing and an abundant amount of kids eating popsicles as they waved to the parade participants. The Muskegon County GOP's float embellished signage of all our grass-root candidates for the upcoming elections, who are the embodiment of our Constitutional Republic values, along with flowing banners of the Red, White and Blue draping along the bottoms edge. As successors to freedom, this years candidates and elections have never been more important as to fighting for and maintaining our liberties and freedoms politically.
Matt DePerno Joins our Team!
We were thrilled to have Matt DePerno (candidate for Attorney General) and his wife as our special guest on our float. It was an honor to have somebody of such importance to the future of our state choose to spend this special day in Muskegon County with us and a nice surprise to Whitehall residents to see the man up close and personal who will replace Dana Nessel in November. depernoformi.com.
July 2, 1776; The True Independence Day?
How we achieved independence in 1776 is in itself a miracle, and our Declaration, a document truly of divine intervention. Officially, the Continental Congress declared its Independence from Britain on July 2, 1776 when it approved a resolution submitted by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring ‘That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved,"
The Committee of Five
After voting for Independence on July 2nd, the "Committee of Five" (Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston and Benjamin Franklin), proposed a draft form in which Thomas Jefferson would author the majority of. It took two days to make the edits and agree on the final draft. It was approved by the Second Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776.
"Our Lives, our Fortunes and Sacred Honor"
The Declaration of Independence was not completely signed until August, 1776. On July 5th, it was sent to the printer where 200 copies were printed to notify the colonies of the intention to separate from Britain, with only the signature of John Hancock at the bottom. It took 6 months to obtain all 56 signatures as each delegate had to travel by horse to reach Philadelphia to sign it. Each signer concluded by pledging "to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor."
Turning Back to God for Blessings of Victory
As we confront the challenges of those who are trying to unravel, manipulate and devalue our Constitution, let us reflect on what our Founding Fathers sacrificed to give us Independence and freedom, and most importantly, remember it was by the grace and goodness of God that our Founding Father's had accomplished such a victory. We have sulked in 246 years of blessings. all the while turning from Him who has granted us our luxuries of freedoms and success. As we too, make sacrifices in our current battle for our nation from those who deny and reject God and do evil, we now must turn back to relying on God, weaving Him back into every aspect of our lives and give Him glory for all. If God is with us, then who can stand against us?!
Celebrating Together
The Whitehall Independence Day Parade was an awesome experience in celebrating the birth of our Independence along with so many other's who love this country and freedom! God Bless America!
Happy Blessed Independence Day, Patriots!
1 Peter 2:16: Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
Psalms 119:45: I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.
Michelle Hazekamp is a Muskegon County business owner and a candidate for Muskegon County Commissioner. She is a graduate of Grand Valley State University with a bachelorette in Science and a minor in History.
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