07/02/2026
In Congress, July 4, 1776:
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.... Declaration of Independence, 1776
"It's a Republic, Ma'am....if you can keep it." Benjamin Franklin, 1792
"It's by far, still the best thing going on the planet....we will not let you destroy it." Brian Halloran, 2026.
1776. The war had been going on for over a year already. Delaware was not a certainty. Without unanimous consent of the states, the rebels fall and the United States never exists. Cesar Rodney, a Delaware delegate to the Continental Congress was dying of cancer. He laid in his bed and got news that his delegation was split. His vote was the only thing lying between surrender or declaring our independence. He rose, dressed, and made the 24 hour ride on his horse, alone, through massive storms in only 18 hours. He arrived soaked, muddy, bedraggled and alive in Philadelphia just in time for the vote. He voted yes. Delaware joined the fight. It was unanimous. You've heard of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, but never the midnight ride of Cesar Rodney.
A King was defeated by a C(a)esar that day. He lived, signed the Declaration of Independence, and died in 1784, having led Delaware as governor thereafter and sorted their finances and many other things. You don't know Cesar Rodney and we don't sing songs about him, but we owe him our freedom along with so many others.
A republic, ma'am......if you can keep it. We choose to keep it. Happy Birthday, America!
