On June 24, 1826, as the 50th anniversary of the signing and approval of the Declaration of Independence approached, an aging Thomas Jefferson wrote what would be his last letter. It was addressed to Roger C. Weightman: an American politician, civic leader, printer, and the eighth Mayor of Washington, D.C.

Jefferson would die on that Independence Day, just ten days after writing his final letter. But his words live on as a history lesson and a caution to succeeding generations . . . if only we have the wisdom to heed them:

“May it [American independence] be to the world, what I believe it will be (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all), the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings and security of self-government. That form which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately . . . These are grounds of hope for others. For ourselves, let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.”

– Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Roger C. Weightman, 24 June 1826.

As we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of that momentous event with fireworks, patriotic music, and enormous amounts of picnic food, let’s also take a few minutes to recall what it is we’re actually commemorating . . . and what we are now fighting to keep alive for our children and their succeeding generations.

Don’t let that be stolen from us.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/17/26