Staff Report

The Fourth of July holiday will officially be observed Saturday, but many federal, state, county and city offices will close Friday to prepare for America’s 233rd birthday.

Some local post offices will close early on Friday, but full delivery and collections will be provided for the day.

“Historically, there’s a significant decline in retail traffic in our lobby on the day before a national holiday,” Gallatin Post Master Juanita Cotton. “We view this as an opportunity to adjust our staffing to the expected decline in workload, and to give our retail employees more time to spend with their families during the long holiday weekend.”

Gallatin and Maydelle Post Offices will close at noon on Friday. Jacksonville, Rusk and Bullard Post Offices will operate during regular hours Friday. All local post offices will be closed on Saturday, July 4.

Most banks will be open during regular business hours on Friday.

The Texas Department of Public Safety offices as well as the Department of Health and Human Services will also close Friday.

The Cherokee County Courthouse and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department’s offices will also be closed on Friday. Anyone needing emergency assistance may still call 911 for police or medical help.

The offices of the cities of Jacksonville, Bullard, Rusk, New Summerfield and Alto will also be closed on Friday. The city of Jacksonville’s trash pick-up will also be suspended on Friday.

The Daily Progress office will close Monday. To reach the newsroom, call 903-586-2239 or e-mail editor@jacksonvilleprogress.com.

According to the Web site www.holidays.net, America celebrates Independence Day (July 4) to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, Penn.

“At the time of the signing the U.S. consisted of 13 colonies under the rule of England’s King George III,” the site states. “There was growing unrest in the colonies concerning the taxes that had to be paid to England. This was commonly referred to as “Taxation without Representation” as the colonists did not have any representation in the English Parliament and had no say in what went on.

“As the unrest grew in the colonies, King George sent extra troops to help control any rebellion. In 1774 the 13 colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia to form the First Continental Congress. The delegates were unhappy with England, but were not yet ready to declare war.”

In April 1775, the battle of Concord and its “shot heard round the world” would mark the unofficial beginning of the colonies war for Independence. The following May the colonies met again as the Second Continental Congress and for nearly a year tried to work out its differences with England, again without formally declaring war.

“By June 1776 their efforts had become hopeless and a committee was formed to compose a formal declaration of independence,” the Web site states.

Chaired by Thomas Jefferson, committee members included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston and Roger Sherman. Jefferson wrote the first draft, which was presented to the Congress on June 28. After various edits a vote was taken late in the afternoon of July 4. Of the 13 colonies, nine voted for the declaration; and two — Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted against. Delaware remained undecided and New York abstained.

Although the signing of the Declaration was not completed until August, July 4 has been accepted as the official anniversary of United States’ independence. The first Independence Day celebration took place July 4, 1777.

“By the early 1800s the traditions of parades, picnics, and fireworks were established as the way to celebrate America’s birthday,” the site states.