As a kid growing up in Cuba, we were blessed with Uncle Joaquin, who was fanatical about U.S. history, especially the Gettysburg Address. I don’t know of anyone else who could recite the speech in English and then translate it into Spanish. He was a very well-educated man who taught at the law school and served as a judge around the area where the U.S. base is located in Guantanamo. He and my aunt stayed in Cuba and died in the 1970s. Who knows what happened to his nice home?
It was Uncle Joaquin who used to tell us stories about the U.S. One of them was how John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
They died within a few hours of each other, neither aware that the other was dying. Jefferson was in Virginia and Adams in Massachusetts. Adams’ last words were, “Thomas Jefferson survives,” while Jefferson’s were, “This is the Fourth of July.”
They were among the last American revolutionaries who stood up to the British empire and created what we celebrate today.
They also spent the last few years of their lives exchanging some great letters.
An amazing story and something to share with your kids today, especially if they are going to college.
Happy July 4th and show your flag today. I have a funny feeling that Uncle Joaquin is up in heaven cheering that I’m sharing this story with you today.
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