“I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival,” he supposedly said. “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 for evermore,”
Attributed to John Addams after the adoption of the Decoration of Independence in July 1776.
* unfortunately we a banned from getting real illuminations 500g and bigger and high flying with a widow shattering boom. 😉 Oh yes he said guns.
