We celebrate our Independence Day today, and it has been nearly 240 years of rebellion.

Our independence from King George and England didn’t come until Sept. 3, 1783, when the United States and England signed the Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War.

From the beginning of our schooling, we have been taught that the Fourth of July is the day we gained our independence. We may have also been taught it’s the day the 13 colonies declared they were rebelling against the king and going to be an independent country.

Both are slightly incorrect. July 2, 1776, was the day the Continental Congress voted to declare its independence from England.

It wasn’t actually until August 2, 1776, that all 56 delegates signed the Declaration of Independence. With, of course, John Hancock signing big and bold in the middle first — what a rebel.

According to the National Archives, John Adams thought we would all celebrate July 2 as the day of independence.

For many years after the Revolutionary War, Independence Day wasn’t celebrated. After the passing of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams on July 4, 1826, our country unofficially adopted July 4 as the holiday. It didn’t become a national holiday until 1870, when Christmas became a holiday as well.

Maybe our 19th century ancestors thought they could kill two birds with one stone and celebrate Presidents Day and Independence Day on the same day.

Whatever the case may be, celebrate the rebelling founders of our country and the struggle it took to put the country together. We haven’t always been a well-oiled machine, but we should be proud of our country.

Here in eastern North Carolina it will be a different Independence Day — one that many of us won’t forget. Between the raindrops and wind of Hurricane Arthur enjoy the cookout and fellowship.

Also make sure to check out the Fourth of July celebrations in Belhaven tonight and tomorrow, along with Washington’s firework and laser light show display tonight along the downtown waterfront.