I am so excited to report that the fireflies in Aurora are back. Last summer by this time I saw quite a few fireflies. I’m not sure if the cool(er) summer we’ve been experiencing has played havoc to them, but I haven’t seen as many fireflies until last night. There they were my sweet little flickers of dancing light, hovering above the darkened sky. The sight of them is quite a phenomenon since I d
id not grow up with these little light vessels in the western states. Each little light, for me, signals a sign of hope. Hope for a better world, hope for continued success, hope for a healthy year for myself and my husband, I hope one day to be reunited with my entire family, etc. For me, these lighted winged insects are like little wishing stars. If you see a firefly, wish fast, because in a split second they will dissolve into darkness. Never fear though, another ray of hope will emerge in the field, on a tree, or in the sky. Fly on winged ray of lighted hope, fly on!-Shelly
The original inscription read, 'Thirteen United States of America'. The original document was signed on July 4, 1776,the 2nd Continental Congress didn't ratify it until March 1, 1781. Once it was ratified, they changed the inscription to read, "The United States of America".
Thomas Jefferson in the first original draft penned the words, "He has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life & liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him, captivating & carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere, or to incur miserable death in their transportation thither." However, the paragraph was edited out of the final draft by South Carolina and Georgia. Thomas Jefferson was upset about the removal of the paragraph up until his death.
The youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence was Edward Rutledge of South Carolina who was 26 years old. Benjamin Franklin, at 70 years young, was the oldest signer of the famous Declaration.
Richard Stockton was one of four signers of the Declaration that were captured by the British. After being incarcerated and under duress, he recanted his statement. When Richard Stockton returned to New York, his house was in ruins and his possessions were gone. The imprisonment ruined his health. Before Richard died he re-affirmed his oath and allegiance to the United States.
In 1989, at a flea market a bargain hunter bought an old worn out painting for $4.00. Tucked under the canvas was one of the 24 original documents of the Declaration of Independence known to exist. For a $4.00 investment it sold at auction for $8.14 million.
