Some historical facts about July 4

Salena Zito writes about a little known fact of history.

Between this heavily wooded ravine along an Allegheny Mountains summit and the "great meadow" down the road, a young George Washington offered his only surrender in battle.

The date was July 4, 1754.

"It is pretty amazing standing here, knowing at this very spot the seeds of democracy were sown," says David Harkleroad, 26, a "living historian" for the National Park Service.

The shots fired between forces led by Washington, then a British emissary, and the French and their Indian allies were the first of the Fort Necessity campaign, which led to the worldwide French and Indian (or Seven Years) War.

"In yet another twist of irony," Harkleroad adds, "because Britain was the ultimate winner of the French and Indian War, the Brits had to pay down their war debt by taxing the colonists, ultimately leading to the rebellion and eventually our independence.

"We American soldiers, through our training and rich traditions in our units, have a keen sense of history," says Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo, commander of Task Force Marne and the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division in Iraq.

American soldiers believe some things are literally worth fighting for: home, family, rights to assemble peaceably, speak our minds and worship as we choose.

"Those things are, in fact, worth our lives, our fortunes, our sacred honor -- just like the signers of the Declaration of Independence pledged confidently during a time of great uncertainty," Cucolo says.

Soldiers take quiet pride in being among the less than 1 percent of this American generation who have come forward and said, "This we will defend."

Zito reminds us of another very interesting fact of history. Did you know that

On July 4, 1826, Adams and Jefferson -- the only two signers of the Declaration of Independence who became president -- died on the nation's 50th anniversary.

found the link at Instapundit