Sunday Morning Coffee — July 5, 2026 — Two Days Too Late?
By Roy Berger, Las Vegas, NV
So, I trust you had an enjoyable #250 on Saturday with all the customary and now obligatory July 4 fixins. Maybe a bean bag toss or cornhole game or three; pop the burgers and ‘dogs off the grill and wash it down with a keg of Old Style. How about some Boston Pops before staring up into the sky to ooh and aaahh over the Zambelli fireworks finale like it’s something we’ve seen for the very first time. In other words, the day was no different than the last 249 times America celebrated.
However, for the last 250 years we may have been reveling our independence from Charles and Camilla on the wrong day. Are we two days behind the times? Or do we have it right?
A few years ago, in 1775 to be exact, the thirteen colonies and all two and a half million of its residents got restless. British rule was no longer its thing. King George III was, in the colonists eyes, oppressive. In fact, in the Declaration of Independence the authors wrote: ”The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.” In other words, no Yankee Doodle Dandy was the royal bloke.
The colonists were resentful over many things going on in the original thirteen. In fact spelled out in the Declaration were twenty-seven perceived aggrievances. Among them were no representation in Parliament and restrictions on trade; centuries later the populace called that tariffs. Then the unsightly presence of British troops patrolling the colonies, perhaps even on bicycles two-by-two. How about depravation of trial by a jury of peers? And that was only the start of the bellyaching. Gobsmacked, the colonists said no mas and in the Declaration of Independence officially severed political connections to Great Britain with the words, “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another.” Only problem was the British didn’t see it quite the same way and said not so fast, servants. So, both sides, stubborn like William and Harry, had no choice but to duke it out. On April 19, 1775, the battles of Lexington and Concord officially began our road to independence. It took longer than a cricket match to ultimately achieve, but seven years later our forefathers finally got the British lads to surrender their wickets.
Over a year after the first war cannon was fired, on July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress of the baker’s dozen colonies that were united in this pursuit met in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall) and voted to support Virginian Richard Henry Lee’s resolution to break from Britain. John Adams stated that day will be marked as a national holiday in perpetuity. In fact, he proclaimed, “(July 2) 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 solemnized with pomp and parade with games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more.”
As a visionary, Adams almost nailed it. However, despite declaring independence on July 2, it took two more days for the Congress to draft the actual parchment. And it was fortunate it got done that quickly. Larry David found the document to be very, very, very incomplete. In David’s new HBO’s show Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Happiness, Larry somehow, someway, inserts himself into the Declaration draft discussions ranting and raving the agreed upon terms were insufficient. As a delegate to the Congress Larry advocates for more, much more. He insists the inclusion of some key provisions that were missing— “There shall be no sharing of umbrellas; no sharing of desserts; it should be illegal to stroke your beard in public; you may never jump from one line to another when it gets shorter and perhaps most important of all, it is illegal to wish people a Happy New Year after January 7th.”
Fortunately, the Founders had their priorities in order and were more concerned with creating a nation, not particularly worried just yet about social etiquette. Instead, in the first act of American impeachment, the delegates booted Larry and his ideas from the hall. Once he was gone the boys stuck with some mundane staples like “All men are created equal and born with fundamental, unalienable Rights which included Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” They didn’t care much about umbrellas or beard stroking.
Thomas Jefferson, not Larry David, became the lead drafter and the Declaration of Independence was produced and printed with the date of July 4, 1776, across the top. As president of the Continental Congress, John Hancock took out his Montblanc quill and signed his John Hancock across the bottom. Adams then took July 2 off his holiday calendar. Exactly two months later, on September 9, 1776 Congress officially changed its name from the United Colonies to the United States of America.
Jefferson wrote years later about the importance of July 4. “For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollection of those rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.”
The war still raged for five additional years. Finally, it concluded with the United States victory in 1781 at the Siege of Yorktown in Virginia. The British surrender followed. The Treaty of Paris made it official. The wankers took their crumpets and headed home. As a bonus for the good guys, the victory insured we forever more avoided the constant, incessant reminder to ‘mind the gap.’
Presumptuous as it might have been, the colonists were sure of the outcome from the outset of the war. Even though victory was far from in hand on July 4, 1777, a year after the adoption of the Declaration, the newly formed country celebrated even though the pesky British still occupied New York City. That didn’t stop General George Washington from treating his soldiers to an extra double ration of rum, a welcome morale boost, for a victory that was still in the offing but getting that much closer.
Philadelphia was the nation’s capital, the largest city and it hosted the first celebration of July 4 in 1777. That day there was a formal dinner for the Continental Congress; a thirteen-gun salute for each of the thirteen colonies; musket volleys fired by soldiers; music and military parades; church bells ringing throughout the day; bonfires after dark and then a tradition like none other began — fireworks when evening arrived. Everyone had a great time except for Philadelphia Eagles fans who booed the event. Nothing’s changed.
Only one thing was missing. A country may claim independence but a country doesn’t really become a great nation until it celebrates in style. And for the United States that didn’t happen until 1972, almost 200 years later, with Richard Nixon in office. Jason Schechter downed 14 ‘dogs in five minutes at the very first Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. We were free, free at last. And yes we have come a long way baby, even from then, as yesterday Joey Chestnut won the 2026 contest by inhaling 66 ‘dogs in ten minutes. It’s a direct reflection on America’s advancement in fitness and training. But I digress.
And you know what? Even though we have our faults, many of them, one thing we don’t have to do is Make America Great Again. It already is.
So, whether it’s July 2 or July 4, it matters not. Happy 250 USA!
I’m proud that Medjet is sponsoring Sunday Morning Coffee. I spent 20 wonderful years with Medjet in Birmingham, Alabama, and can tell you unequivocally they are the standard-bearer for medical assistance membership programs. A talented staff, who cares about its members, is at the forefront of the company’s success. Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, domestic or international, a Medjet membership should be an important part of your travel portfolio before you leave home. Check out the Medjet website at medjet.com or just tap on the Medjet logo and you’ll be able to get a look at Medjet’s services, rules and regulations, pricing, and an overview of the organization. And remember, any opinions expressed in Sunday Morning Coffee content or comments belong to the author and not the sponsor. Safe travels with your Medjet membership! — Roy Berger