On July 4, 1776, delegates to the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. Although the American Revolutionary War had started with the “shot heard around the world” on April 19, 1775, few colonists desired complete independence from Great Britain at that time. By the middle of 1776, however, more colonists had come to favor independence, and Richard Henry Lee, the Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress, introduced a motion on July 2 calling for the colonies’ independence. After the motion passed, Thomas Jefferson presented the draft of the Declaration of Independence and the Continental Congress took all of July 3 and most of July 4 to make revisions until we got the version they adopted.
On July 4, 2026, our nation will commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As the America250.org Inc. website says, “This is an opportunity to pause and reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look ahead toward the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond.” Americans are encouraged to join in celebrating this milestone by making a charitable contribution through the “Giving 4th” initiative or helping to make 2026 a record-setting year for volunteer service through “America Gives.” Another way to join in the celebration is to be join in the cross-country, simultaneous reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. (PT).
The Saugus Union School District Board and Cabinet wishes all of our families a happy and safe 4th of July.
