July 2: A Most Memorable Epocha?

Each year when national holidays roll around, I have a habit of picking up my American Literature book from college and reading things like the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.  I usually read aloud to KJ while we drive to a family gathering.  He's such a lucky man.

Last year--or maybe the year before?--I read some letters John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, one of which was written July 3, 1776 in which he wrote:

Yesterday...A resolution was passed without one dissenting colony

"that these united Colonies, are, and of right ought to be free

and independent States..."

Because the resolution was passed on July 2, a subsequent letter to his wife said,

The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha,

in the History of America.--I am apt to believe that it will

be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great

anniversary Festival.  It ought to be commemmorated,

as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion 

to God Almighty.  It ought to be solemnized with Pomp

and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns,

Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of

this Continent to the other from this Time forward

forever more. 

I really love that.  He was close.  All of those things do happen...just not on the second of July.