On New Year’s Day 1776, the Revolutionary War was not going well for Gen. George Washington and the Continental Army.
The day before Gen. Richard Montgomery was killed leading a failed attempt to capture Quebec and his troops suffered severe losses. Yearly enlistments were expiring and supplies were running out quickly.
Yet, Washington kept the Army together and continued fighting the British Army throughout the eventful year. On July 4, the United States of America came into existence when the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
On Christmas night it looked like the rebels were going to lose the Revolutionary War, yet Washington and his men crossed the cold Delaware River and launched a surprise attack on the Hessian mercenaries in Trenton the next morning to change their fortunes.
It would still be five more years of battle until the greatest Army on the planet at the time was defeated by determined American patriots, but 1776 was the turning point.
This year the nation will celebrate its 250th anniversary as a republic where people are guaranteed freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to assemble and freedom of the press.
The journey has not been easy but the founding fathers set up safeguards, such as the ability to amend the Constitution, to address future problems. Although Thomas Jefferson wrote that “all men are created equal,” at the time those words did not include women or enslaved people.
Yet, after a bloody Civil War, the slaves were freed. After years of protest, women were finally allowed to vote. In the 1960s, African Americans finally were guaranteed their Civil Rights.
The United States stands as a beacon of hope to oppressed people around the world – “government for the people and by the people.”
So as Americans wake up on Jan. 1, 2026, we should be proud of our nation and the freedoms it protects – and get ready to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States.
Also, we should remember those freedoms have been preserved by the blood of soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Freedom of the press is especially important for the Sun Newspapers of Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties – 19 community papers that cover the towns of Berlin, Cherry Hill, Cinnaminson, Mantua, Marlton, Medford, Moorestown, Mt. Laurel, Mullica Hill, Shamong, Sicklerville, Tabernacle, Delran, Deptford, Haddonfield, Palmyra, Southampton, Voorhees, Washington Township and Williamstown.
Our reporters have the right to cover local town councils and school boards and address issues affecting communities. We also have the pleasure to write feature stories about people and organizations who make South Jersey a great place to live.
Sadly, we also cover tragic stories – like the tragic deaths of Matthew Dickinson in Palmyra and Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau – who along with their father, Guy, built the ice hockey programs at Hollydell in Washington Township and Gloucester Catholic High School.
Then there are the fun stories of pure joy – like the Washington Township High School football team winning the NJSIAA Group 5 state championship.
This year we will cover many events celebrating the birth of this wonderful nation, including the opening of the American Revolution Museum of Southern New Jersey at the historic Benjamin Cooper Tavern in Camden City.
We wish our readers and advertisers a prosperous, Happy New Year and we wish the United States of America a Happy Birthday. The year 2026 promises to be a good one.
