Throughout our 20 years of volunteering in our children’s schools, Mia and I witnessed one recurring theme. All the people of Central wanted was school buildings, teachers, and to have our children attend their neighborhood schools. The volunteers of Central would do the rest. The willingness of the people of Central to do whatever it takes to provide for our children is born out of a spirit of independence and dedication to our families and our community. When we were told that in order to control the destiny of our schools we must also form our own city, that same spirit of independence was roused and met the challenge. Tomorrow we set aside a day to celebrate the ultimate expression of independence when, through great sacrifice, our forefathers declared that the United States would be independent from England.
In July of 1776, as the Declaration of Independence was being signed, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail saying that Independence Day “…will be the most memorable epoch 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 commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”
Until I read this quote from one of this nation’s founders I wondered why the 4th of July specifically included parades, fireworks, ball games, cookouts and parties. Now we all know. We are just following the instructions of John Adams. So now that we know we are under a mandate from our second President, let’s all make tomorrow the celebration it deserves to be, a celebration of the independence of the greatest nation on the face of the earth.
As we set aside a day to celebrate and remember the sacrifices and dedication of the men and women who made this great nation possible 237 years ago, let’s also celebrate the continued spirit of independence behind the creation of the City of Central and the Central Community School System. The final line of the Declaration of Independence states: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” I would like to personally thank all of the men and women who, in the spirit of that pledge, worked tirelessly and with determination to create our independent Central, the greatest place in this independent Nation to live and raise a family.
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