Forgotten Fourth Fathers
Booms, pops, rat-a-tat-tats, and sparkling fountains fill noisy and colorful days and nights; most cities and neighborhoods prohibit fireworks.
The Fourth of July holiday reminds me of many things. In 1984, I visited the National Archives in our nation’s capital, when I suddenly stopped. Encased and heavily guarded was the original Declaration of Independence. It was difficult to read; parched, discolored, and distorted by an impenetrable pane to protect it from attacks and UV lighting. Regardless, I already knew what it said.
In 1967, my middle school class visited an exact replica of Independence Hall at Knott’s Berry Farm, an Orange County, California, amusement park. Inside, the signing of the Declaration of Independence was depicted in detail. Afterward, I bought a small parchment reproduction that I kept for many years.
Public priorities changed; the park is high-speed thrill rides, noise, and glaring lights. The Hall gets less attention, and perhaps the document is forgotten. Many years passed while I explored my family tree. Using a handful of names, I traced a few generations using birth, marriage, death certificates and viewing census records on microfilm. On another visit to Washington, D.C., I again viewed our illustrious Declaration of Independence. Soon thereafter, I visited my grandparents and mentioned I was still doing our genealogy. My grandmother said women in our family could join the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR); a sophisticated status symbol in her youth, and asked me to verify our eligibility.
I used her memory, books, records from the Family History Libraries in Anaheim and Salt Lake City, and the Laguna Niguel National Archives. My research exceeded what I needed, revealing many ancestors ensuring our acceptance. Grandma was grateful for making her dream a reality. I joined the DAR, but sadly, grandma died within a year.
My search revealed colonists, including many of my ancestors, boldly risked their lives, families, homes, and farms. I was moved by battles, injuries, and deaths found in military and personal documents. Our Declaration of Independence affirmed that being England’s subjects now ceased. We demanded equality, personal rights, and self-government in a document outlined by a Congress representing the People; their fellow citizens. This instrument shaped our nation’s history and is a model for countries worldwide.
Fourth of July fireworks, days off, and barbecues are meaningless to me. Upon seeing the Stars and Stripes, hearing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” our national anthem, I ponder the costly sacrifices and dedication of these and their families throughout the past as well those of today, I become very emotional. The true Fourth of July celebration is their legacy for all generations.
LR Campbell, Auburn
