A small group of brave men changed the world 234 years ago today.

The adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, was a clear, public announcement that the American colonies thought themselves free and independent from British rule.

It was an ambitious, gutsy move, one that Americans still hold today as an underlying tenet of our society.

Many of us may recall the second paragraph from the document after memorizing it years ago in grade school:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Upon those 35 carefully crafted words, America’s early beliefs of how a country should be formed and the basic rights its citizens deserve were formed.

That brave declaration and the absolute determination to win the Revolutionary War led the young revolutionaries to eventually build the greatest nation in the world.

Today, as we celebrate the greatness of our country, we admit that it is not perfect, only something made by the Creator could be. But despite its flaws, our country eventually works out its problems for the best.

As we celebrate our independence today, we hope that every citizen will pause and remember what that truly means.

From the most precious of all rights — those granted by the First Amendment to the Constitution — to the simple right to take a leisurely day of hanging out at the lake or at the backyard barbecue, we are lucky to live in such a great country.

And, we’d be wise to count our blessings today and be thankful for all that we have.