We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. #DeclarationOfIndependence #America250
Tag: celebration
Marking 250 Years of the Declaration of Independence
This weekend, the nation will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the #Declaration of Independence. The document, however, wasn’t actually signed by the 56 representatives of the Second Continental Congress until Aug. 2, 1776, according to the University of Virginia, whose archives include two copies of the unsigned broadsides published on July 5. Thus, the famous lithograph of the Founding Fathers signing the declaration shows a fictional event — and Independence Day wasn’t celebrated widely until after the (second) U.S. defeat of British forces in the War of 1812. #America250
Keep Your Cookout Safe for the Fourth
#Fourth of July and other #summer #cookouts can be hotbeds of foodborne illnesses. To gather and grill safely, keep hot foods hot (above 140°F) and cold foods cold (below 40°F), says the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health. Cook meats to a safe internal temperature, and don’t leave anything out for more than two hours. Always keep raw and ready-to-eat foods separate and use different cutting boards, plates and utensils for raw meats and cooked or ready-to-eat foods. Marinate in the refrigerator and discard sauces that have touched raw meat. Wash hands, cooking surfaces and containers often. #America250 #SafetyTips
Keep Fireworks Use Safe for America’s 250th
#Fireworks injuries happen every #Fourth of July; more than 13,000 fireworks-related injuries and 15 deaths were logged nationwide in 2025, and the nation’s 250th will likely bring even more. Burns and other injuries are preventable, the Consumer Products Safety Commission says. Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers. Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire. Light fireworks one at a time and move back fast. Never try to relight or pick up fireworks that didn’t detonate completely. And never use fireworks when impaired by alcohol or drugs. #America250 #SafetyTips
Marking the Milestone of Graduation
May and June are #graduation season. The academic calendar is coming to an end, and those in their senior years of high school and college will make the transition out of their respective schools and take the next steps in their lives. Many schools and families take note of middle and elementary school graduations, too.
The first thing on the minds of many #graduates and their #parents (after the ceremonies) is a #celebration. Graduation parties tend to be low-key, multigenerational affairs, gifts optional. If you plan one, ask the honoree what kind of gathering they would like to have, who should be on the guest list and what kind of refreshments might be served, says Emily Post.
However you #elebrate, graduation marks important milestone in life. The end of high school and college often carries bittersweet connotations, because the student will soon be saying goodbye to friends, accepting more adult responsibilities, and perhaps moving and/or entering a profession for the first time. Many will be seeking meaning or a new goal in life.
The reason many ceremonies are referred to as commencements is that while graduation is the end of one phase, it’s also new beginning — the culmination of years of work and a window into the great unknown. It can be an unsettling and emotional period; be prepared to help your gradate (or yourself) cope with new and unfamiliar demands.
One thing you can do to get the graduate’s next phase off on the right foot is to help them #edit and store the artifacts of those school years. With few exceptions, your high school grad isn’t going to need most of souvenirs of the previous four years for college or career, and college grads won’t need dorm-room trappings following them to their next homes.
Encourage your #grad to weed through their documents and keep the essentials — transcripts, writing samples, portfolios — in digital formats to save space. They can return textbooks and #organize #keepsakes in bins or boxes, PODS says. They can get rid of #clothing that won’t suit their next phase, along with extra appliances, dinnerware and other furnishings. Anything that doesn’t make the cut can go to ClothingDonations.org with a #free #donation #pickup.
Graduation is a milestone — and all milestones are an opportunity for reflection and goal-setting. #Decluttering can help graduates recognize and appreciate where their journey has taken them and move forward to the next big thing. Congratulations to all the grads!