JULY 4,1826

The task of drafting the Declaration of Independense should have fallen to elder statesman, Benjamin Franklin. However, Franklin was ill. Next in line was John Adams, but he argued that Thomas Jefferson should be the architect of the document.  Adams said to Jefferson, "You are ten times the writer I am."  Jefferson prepared the draft of the Declaration with provisions coming from both Ben Franklin and John Adams.  This was probably the last time Adams and Jefferson agreed on anything. 

Upon George Washington's retirement from the Presidency, John Adams,who was Washington's Vice-President,  became the second President of the United States of America defeating Jefferson by only a three vote margin, 71-68 electoral votes. In those days, whomever came in second became the Vice-President, thus Thomas Jefferson became the second in power.  Then after John Adams served two terms another bitterly fought campaign saw Jefferson defeat the incumbent, John Adams. Adams did not attend the inauguration of the third President, but used as an excuse the recent death of his son in New York.  Jefferson also served for two terms and then retired to his home in Virginia, Monticello.

Meanwhile, from his retirement farm in Quincy, Massachusetts, John Adams began to write long missives to his arch enemy, Jefferson.  A grudging admiration began to bloom through these letters and in their later years the two became friends. 

Although Adams was seven years Jefferson's senior, he always maintained that he would outlive Thomas Jefferson.  On July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the birth of our nation, and unknown to both of these men who had been instrumental in that birth, each lay on their death beds.  The last words uttered by John Adams were, "Thomas Jefferson survives."  But John Adams was wrong.  Several hours before, Thomas Jefferson had died at  Monticello.  Adams did afterall, outlive Jefferson. 

What a strange turn of events that both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, architects of the Declaration of Independence, signers of the same document and founding fathers of this great nation, should die on the same day, the 50th anniversary of the country they had played such important roles in founding.  Patriots to the end. 

On this Independence Day, the 234th anniversary of our birth, may we stop and remember the great men who gave us life.  They sacrificed much for the liberty we enjoy today living in the Land of the free, and the home of the brave!

God bless America and God bless all the men and women who serve on the front lines, in harm's way, to defend our freedom and those that have gone before. 

Gayle Wheat, an Army Wife and proud American