Editor’s note: WhitewaterWise and Fort Atkinson Online, with help from a poem, titled: “1776,” by Ron “RadioRon” Stelse, wish our readers a happy Fourth of July.

1776

Fifty six signers of Independence

Introduced freedom at the stroke of a quill 

it gave birth to liberty

Which in turn defended our will.

Whoever heard of these things

Certainly not England across the sea

It would take blood and tears and lives

To prove that our freedom will always be.

Nothing is weak about our tie to freedom 

Some will laugh as doubters often do

But our whole country see’s it’s freedom 

In the colors of red and white and blue.