Philadelphia, A City Filled With U.S. History

Photo by Rick Kagey

After spending a day in Philadelphia, PA this summer, I came to a new respect for our nation’s leaders. The sights and history of that city are incredible.

Of course, everyone has to run up the steps of the Rocky steps in front of the Philadelphia Art Museum and have a cheesesteak, but you also must take a step back to truly appreciate the historical events that happened in that city.
The Declaration of Independence was drafted on July 2, 1776, and signed into law on July 4, 1776. The Liberty Bell which rang out for the first time on July 8, 1776, from the tower at Independence Hall calling the citizens of Philadelphia to hear the first public reading. To the US mint where most of the coins in American are made, or the actual First or 2nd National Banks were. You can’t go to Philadelphia without stopping at Betsy Ross’ house, the one who made our country’s first flag.
The highlight of the trip was learning quite a bit about one of our founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin. Some things were well known, like discovering electricity and of course signing the Declaration of Independence, but there is so much more. Next to his grave is basically his resume. From the editor of the Pennsylvania Gazette to founding the first library, fire department, hospital and University to the first to use electricity and the Franklin stove among dozens of other things too many to list.
On this Independence Day let’s remember where it all started where 56 men took a chance, and the rest is history.

Rick Kagey, an Air Force Veteran. 
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