National Independence Observation Month
While it is commendable that the Mayor and Council, without comment, read a proclamation at the last meeting to recognize the month of July as National Independence Observation Month, it is sad it was only done at the last minute, and only because a resident asked for recognition of July as the birth month of the Declaration of Independence.
It was so hastily put together that the borough clerk could not even get the revised agenda up on the borough page the day of the meeting.
It should not have been necessary for anyone to ask that the nation’s birthday be celebrated for an entire month. In the past year, there have been resolutions setting aside a week for Emergency Medical Services, another for Period Poverty Awareness, one for National Police Week, another for National Nurses Week, and a day to observe Day Sixth of June and another to commemorate Juneteenth.
All worth of some mention, it’s true. Isn’t the birthday of America worth at least that much in the borough of Atlantic Highlands?
Then consider the months the borough has set aside to recognize so far this year. There was National Arab American Heritage Month, National Volunteer Month, National Irish American Month, and National GBTQ Pride month when a Pride flag was even approved to fly the entire month both on the borough hall lawn and on all the map posts alongside the American flag.
Yet no one on Council asked for or offered a month recognition to say Happy Birthday, America.
Even recognizing the nation’s birthday, the resolution read at the meeting began by celebrating the first Constitution of the state of New Jersey rather than concentrate on the 13 colonies working together to form a new nation.
New Jersey’s legislature, not the fife New Jerseyans who signed the Declaration, whipped up a constitution in five days, in July, one that lasted in the state for 68 years without change. But it had a caveat in it as well, something the resolution adopted in Atlantic Highlands did not mention.
The state Constitution, it said, would only be in effect so long as the colonies were separate from England, but if at some time in the future, the colonies came back under the King of England, well then, this Constitution would be null and void.
Kind of spells out the importance of that Declaration of Independence, doesn’t it?
Here is the Resolution as presented by Mayor Gluckstein at the meeting:
PROCLAMATION
MAYOR & COUNCIL
BOROUGH of ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS
WHEREAS, on July 2, 1776, New Jersey became the fourth American colony to adopt a constitution declaring independence from Great Britain. It was composed in five days and although the delegates considered it a temporary charter, it remained New Jersey’s State Constitution for sixty-eight years; and
WHEREAS, after unanimous approval by the thirteen colonies, on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted and signed by John Hancock, then-president of the Continental Congress; and
WHEREAS, the freedoms that were won at the birth of our nation are defended every day
by the dedicated service of members of the United States Armed Forces, past and present; and,
WHEREAS, 2023 marks the 247th anniversary of our nation’s Declaration of Independence from Great Britain.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Loretta Gluckstein, Mayor of the Borough of Atlantic Highlands do hereby proclaim the month of July as NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE OBSERVATION MONTH in recognition and commemoration of the many citizens and service members who have sacrificed their lives, fortune, and sacred honor in pursuit or protection of our freedom and liberties.
Given under my hand and seal of office this 22st day of June, 2023.
____________________________________
Loretta Gluckstein, Mayor
