In his new book,
The Declaration of Independence: The Words That
Made America, Sam Fink painstakingly illustrates a document that
changed the worldjust in time for its 226th birthday this Fourth
of July.
"I'm just so happy to be born in America," Fink said in a recent
interview with ScholasticNews.com. "Two years ago, I read the
Declaration of Independence for the first time, and thought, 'What
a wonderful piece of work. Wouldn't it be great to illustrate this?'
So I sat down, just out of sheer joy, and started to work."
It took more than a year for this 86-year-old artist and grandfather
of seven to hand draw each word in the Declaration. Then, Fink illustrated
every phrase with drawings of 18th-century politicians, soldiers,
and ordinary people. Fink said he hopes that by reading his book,
young people will better understand a document that helped build
a new nation.
"Every year we celebrate [the Fourth of July]," said Fink. "We have
bonfires, cookouts, fireworks, music, parades. But nobody ever reads
the wonderful words that I believe made America. The history of
our nation is just glossed over."
Fink said that after the September 11 terrorist attacks on he felt
it was especially important for young people to read a declaration
that promises every human being the right to life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness.
"I think young people tend to take for granted our young nation,"
Fink said. "This country is a great place. There's no place like
it. It's not perfect, but our freedom is so valuable. We have to
keep our eyes and ears open all the time to defend it and protect
it."
Fink said young people should also remember that, thanks to the
Declaration of Independence, thousands of immigrants from all over
the world come here every day seeking a better life. He said he
often thought about his own grandmother, who came to America from
Poland in 1885, when he worked on the book.
"She couldn't read or write," Fink said. "Now my children and grandchildren
are going to college. It's wonderful, and we owe it all to the Declaration
of Independence."