The Fourth of July—also known as Independence Day or July 4th—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 to the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues. The Fourth of July 2021 is on Sunday, July 4, 2021; the federal holiday will be observed on Monday, July 5, 2021.
A History of Independence Day
When the initial battles in the Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, few colonists desired complete independence from Great Britain, and those who did were considered radical.
By the middle of the following year, however, many more colonists had come to favor independence, thanks to growing hostility against Britain and the spread of revolutionary sentiments such as those expressed in the bestselling pamphlet “Common Sense,” published by Thomas Paine in early 1776.
On June 7, when the Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House (later Independence Hall) in Philadelphia, the Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion calling for the colonies’ independence.
Amid heated debate, Congress postponed the vote on Lee’s resolution, but appointed a five-man committee—including Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New York—to draft a formal statement justifying the break with Great Britain.
On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of Lee’s resolution for independence in a near-unanimous vote (the New York delegation abstained, but later voted affirmatively). On that day, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that July 2 “will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival” and that the celebration should include “Pomp and Parade…Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other.”
On July 4th, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, which had been written largely by Jefferson. Though the vote for actual independence took place on July 2nd, from then on the 4th became the day that was celebrated as the birth of American independence.
"Fourth of July - Independence Day", History.com Editors, Jan 8 2021, https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/july-4th
Twins Days will be Aug 6th, 7th and 8th this year.
The Rotary Club of Twinsburg will be serving a hotdog dinner to the arriving twins and their families on Aug 6th from 4pm to 8pm at the Twinsburg Tiger Stadium. This is a ongoing community service project.
Mark your calendar for these events to support the club and Rotary!
In 1976, a small group of dedicated people planning Twinsburg’s participation in the bicentennial celebration that year decided to set aside one day for twins. The Twins Day Festival started with a flag raising and dedication of the Wilcox Monument on the square and the dedication of the first picnic shelter at Glenn Chamberlin Park. The following year, determined not to let the idea die, a committee went into action, and made the second Twins Day happen. There were food booths that year operated by local service organizations wanting to raise funds for their treasuries, a band concert talent show, a Square Dance Exhibition and a bike-and-buggy parade for children 12 years and younger. With 38 sets of twins who attended that second year we were on our way.
The past 43 festivals have seen over 77,000 sets of twins and multiples have attended, national and international media coverage, a visiting delegation of nine sets of twins from the Soviet Union, as well as on site research by companies and universities. The Twins Days Festival is recorded as the Largest Annual Gathering of Twins in the World by the Guinness Book of World Records.
There are more than 80 Rotary Fellowships. From sports and hobbies to professional interests, these groups draw members from around the world.
From stamp collecting to ballroom dancing, the interests of Rotarians are as diverse as the membership itself. Yet, among the more than 1.2 million Rotarians worldwide, an amateurradio enthusiast or a chess player is bound to find others who share the same passions. But Rotary Fellowship members share more than just their common interest in sport diving, golf, fishing, or scouting; they share an interest in fellowship and service and in promoting world understanding. As such, it’s no wonder that the International Skiing Fellowship of Rotarians donates the profits from ski events to The Rotary Foundation or that the Flying Rotarians help ferry medical personnel and supplies. Rotary Fellowships also unite Rotarians who have shared professional interest in such fields as arts and communication and finance/banking. Members exchange technical information and seek opportunities to employ their expertise in service not just to their own communities and countries, but to their professions as well.
They're just one more way Rotarians are promoting international fellowship, friendship, and service.
Click here for more information about Rotary Fellowships.
Click here to view the Rotary Fellowships brochure.
Overview of the program
Global Networking Groups allow individual Rotarians from several countries to join together to focus on common interests. Through these groups, you can -
• Share fellowship and friendship with thousands of Rotarians • Meet other Rotarians with a similar hobby or vocational background • Collaborate with Rotarians from around the world who are dedicated to a particular area of service
There are two types of Global Networking Groups: Rotary Fellowships and Rotarian Action Groups.
Rotary Fellowships
Rotary Fellowships offer Rotarians the opportunity to make friends with others in Rotary who share a common vocation, hobby, or recreational interest.
Rotarian Action Groups
Rotarian Action Groups conduct international service projects that further the Object of Rotary. If you're interested in supporting a particular type of service activity, there may be a Rotarian Action Group for you.
Incoming RI President Shekhar Mehta, a member of the Rotary Club of Calcutta-Mahanagar, West Bengal, India, revealed the 2021-22 presidential theme, Serve to Change Lives, at this week’s virtual Rotary International Assembly. He urged district governors-elect to become more involved in service projects, saying that caring for and serving others is the best way to live because it changes not only other people’s lives, but also our own. Read more about the 2021-22 presidential theme
This week’s Rotary Foundation Thought is about Rotary's Investments
Investments are critical to the sustainability of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation. The Office of Investment is responsible for managing Rotary’s investments according to policies set by The Rotary Foundation’s Trustees and Rotary International’s Board of Directors. Through a commitment to stewardship and excellence, we seek to establish a legacy that distinguishes Rotary as a prudent investor, supports Rotary's objectives, and promotes sustainability.
Click HERE to read more about this Rotary Foundation Thought
