Monday is Independence Day, a day when people all over the nation celebrate that day in 1776 when American representatives at the Continental Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence from Britain.

On July 2, the Continental Congress voted to approve a three-part resolution declaring the colonies independent from Britain. But it was two days later, on July 4, that would go down in history.

Rather than being an internal resolution, the Declaration of Independence was a statement to the world that all people were created equal and government happened only with the consent of the governed — a sentiment that has survived to this day.

“I think it’s important for us to think about the history of our country and the sacrifices that were made so we can spend the Fourth of July cooking hamburgers out by the swimming pool,” District 39 Sen. Sally Doty said, jokingly.

Doty has been reading about the nation’s past leaders.

“I have been actually reading a lot of books this summer. I’ve been obsessed with Hamilton, so I’ve been reading books about the Revolutionary War period. The sacrifices made during that period were just unimaginable. The men who signed the Declaration of Independence were named traitors by King George III and knew their lives were on the line.”

These days, July 4 is often celebrated with cookouts and parties with friends and families. Fireworks displays also have a long history. In Brookhaven, Doty is hosting a fireworks display at 9 p.m. at the Lincoln County Civic Center. The fireworks will be loosely choreographed with music played on Supertalk 102.1, according to Doty.

“Everybody just drives in and parks,” Doty said. “You stay there right at your car. A lot of people pop up in the back of their pickup truck or bring a lawn char. It’s really good I think.”

There aren’t many other choices for fireworks displays this year. The displays typically held at Easthaven aren’t happening this year, and applications were not sent in for the usual church events in McComb, according to their city clerk. The display by Lake Hazle in Hazlehurst is also canceled.

There will be a downtown fireworks display at Vicksburg at 9 p.m. and a cookout at the Strong Hope Baptist Church ballpark on 1144 King Road, starting at 4 p.m. The menu includes a a whole hog and they’ll have a water slide and games for children.