In Congress, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

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.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

New Hampshire:

Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts:

John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:

Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut:

Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York:

William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey:

Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania:

Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware:

Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland:

Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:

George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina:

William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina:

Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia:

Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

(The above text came from the National Archives at www.archives.gov, and is a transcription of the Stone Engraving of the parchment Declaration of Independence. The spelling and punctuation reflects the original.)

Fort Leonard Wood service members, families and friends will come together July 4 to commemorate the United States adoption of the Declaration of Independence 241 years ago.

In this time-honored tradition, where picnics, family gatherings, reunions, parties and fireworks have all become part of celebrating the nation’s independence, it is important to be safe and to remember that fireworks are not permitted on Fort Leonard Wood.

According to the Missouri Department of Public Safety, fireworks and alcohol are a bad mix.

On its website, dfs.dps.mo.gov, the department specifically warns the public “Don’t use fireworks while consuming alcohol,” urging celebrants to choose a “designated shooter” at gatherings — or preferably skipping shooting off your own fireworks altogether and attending a public fireworks display put on by trained professionals.

Another bad mix is drinking and driving.

This Independence Day weekend, whether you’re hosting a celebration or heading out to an event, keep safety in mind and avoid unnecessary risks — especially when it comes to alcohol.

Drinking and driving is extremely dangerous, and the risks involved not only endanger the lives of drivers, passengers and bystanders, but also have life-changing consequences that can impact careers, Families and finances.

When it comes to alcohol, the No. 1 recommendation by the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center, the Centers for Disease Control and other federal agencies is to make a plan, starting with this: Designate a driver for your unit or group before you head out.

Designated drivers are non-drinking drivers who agree to stay sober so they can safely drive their friends, coworkers or fellow service members to a celebration or between venues and safely deliver them home.

For service members, the USACRC recommends starting a designated-driver program for each unit.

Here are some other recommendations, tips and ways to plan ahead:

• If you’re alone and have been drinking, get a ride home with a sober driver;
• If you don’t have a sober friend or designated driver available, call a taxi. Carry extra money for a cab.
• Don’t let your friends drive impaired. Make sure they get a ride with a sober driver or call a taxi for them.
• Also, don’t be afraid to hide their car keys — even if they get angry with you.

Be a responsible host.

If you’re hosting an event where alcohol is served:

• Remind your guests to plan ahead and choose a designated driver in advance.
• Responsible hosts cater to designated drivers. So, be sure to offer them a variety of alcohol-free beverages, plenty of good food and your thanks — because they are literally acting as the “life” of the party.
• Make sure all guests leave with a sober driver.
• If you can’t find a sober driver for an impaired guest, suggest they sleep over.
• If all else fails, and an impaired person insists on leaving or becomes belligerent when you try to assist them, call law enforcement. Your guest will very likely survive an arrest or a night in jail – the same can’t be said if they get behind the wheel.
• Never, ever serve alcohol to minors.

Know the consequences.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a service member, civilian employee, contractor or Family member, if you live or work on Fort Leonard Wood, drinking and driving can have serious consequences whether an incident or arrest happens on post or outside the gate.

Under Fort Leonard Wood Regulation 190-5, on-post driving privileges can be immediately suspended for drivers found to have a blood-alcohol content of .08 percent when operating personal vehicles or .04 percent if operating a commercial vehicle on post — or for violating Missouri law, which has the same limits off post.

You can check out the complete version of Regulation 190-5 online at www.wood.army.mil/doimspt/FLW%20Publications/r190-5.pdf.

According to the USACRC, service members can potentially face Article 15 penalties and may be tried by court martial under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the harshest penalties being the forfeiture of all pay and allowances, a dishonorable discharge and confinement.

In Missouri, a conviction for Driving While Intoxicated and Driving Under the Influence of drugs or other substances can mean up to 6 months’ imprisonment, a $500 fine and court-ordered alcohol treatment and addiction programs.

You can also lose your license to drive from 90 days for a first offense and up to 10 years for subsequent offenses.

In addition to the loss of actual freedom, DWI/DUI convictions can also include a loss of financial freedom. Court costs, attorney’s fees, increased insurance costs, bond payments and the license reinstatement process are expensive.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the costs associated with a single DWI conviction — that’s simply getting pulled over with a BAC of .08 percent or higher — average about $3,000.

The USACRC estimates the total costs of a conviction between $5,000 and $20,000, depending on the location of the arrest and the circumstances involved.

(Editor’s note: Information also provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Missouri Department of Revenue and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.)

The United States Army has declared Tuesday through July 5 as Armed Forces Voters Week and Overseas Citizens Voters Week.

Absentee voters are encouraged to register to vote in their state of legal residence, and to request absentee ballots for all elections.

Even though 2017 is not a Federal Election year, all states will hold elections throughout this year on a number of issues.

Eligible local voters are encouraged to register and vote in all local elections.

The majority of Soldiers and their eligible Family members, by being stationed somewhere other than their state of legal residence, must vote by absentee ballot in order to participate in elections.

Registration is required in most states in order to receive absentee ballots for elections.

It is recommended that absentee voters register each year and any time they have a change of address.

For all eligible active duty members of the uniformed services and their eligible Family members (U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old), the Federal Post Card Application can be used to register to vote while simultaneously requesting absentee ballots. It is also used to submit a change of address to your local election official.

The Federal Voting Assistance Program makes it easy. Voters may go online at www.fvap.gov and select their state of legal residence, which will normally match what is on their leave and earnings statement, and then select to fill out the FPCA.

All state-specific information and requirements are provided.

The Installation Voting Assistance Office is also available to provide information and assistance in exercising the right to vote.

The office is located in Dillard Hall, Building 470, Room 2226 and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Contact the Voting Assistance Office at 573.596.0131, ext. 60741, or by email at usarmy.leonardwood.usag.mbx.voting-assistance@mail.mil.

Remember, your vote is your voice.

(Information provided by Lea Ann Starmer, Installation Voting Assistance officer.)