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Every year around this time I go on a bit of a crusade with my friends and family. They start talking about the Fourth of July -- planning celebrations and expressing their hopes for good weather that day.

It bothers me that this is the only national holiday that's referred to by its calendar date rather than its name.

We don't wish people a "Merry December 25th" or "Happy January 1st," do we?

I think it's important to remember what it is we're celebrating.

Thomas Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, a revolutionary document that proclaimed the American colonies' separation from British rule. In a courageous act of defiance against one of the world's most powerful empires, the Continental Congress adopted this document on July 4, 1776.

Referring to this date as "Independence Day" captures this pivotal moment and reminds us that our nation was founded on the principles of liberty, self-governance and the pursuit of happiness. It reminds us of the sacrifices that were made by our Founding Fathers and countless others who risked, and in some cases sacrificed their lives to establish a free, sovereign America.

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