Independence Day

As you hold this copy of The Monticello News in your hand, think of the importance that newspapers, printers, editors and writers have done to make this nation.

One such printer, John Dunlap, his name almost lost in history, performed one of the bravest and patriotic duties in our United States history. On the late evening of July 4th, 1776, John Hancock, President of the Second Continental Congress, delivered the handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence to him so that he could make 200 type-set copies for distribution around the thirteen colonies.

Only 25 of those copies still exist today. You may remember that in 2000, television producer, Norman Lear, paid over eight million dollars for one of those copies. His copy was found by a person who bought a pretty picture frame at a flea market, removed the old picture in the frame, only to discover one of the original Dunlap prints.

For Dunlap’s contribution and for the other 56 members of the Second Continental Congress, they were branded as traitors to Great Britain and the Crown. As such, if caught, they would be hanged.

Not one ever faced the executioners.

On July 5th, 1776, with the ink still drying, the Declaration printed by Dunlap went out to the people and by days it was read in public meetings in the thirteen colonies. His document planted the seeds of independence in the minds of the colonists, but it would be 12 long years before we would become the United, yes, the United States of America.

As you celebrate our 238th 4th of July here in one of the original thirteen colonies, remember those who made it possible and the words of those brave people who declared, “When in the course of human events…”.