Here’s to the Spirit of 76.

Happy birthday to Bruce Springsteen of Freehold, who just turned 76. The Boss was born today to Adele and Douglas Springsteen at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch on Sept. 23, 1949.

Adele gave him a guitar and he learned how to make it talk. The rest is history.

The past year has been a patriotic one for Springsteen. He endorsed a candidate for president, Kamala Harris, from a diner in Freehold, and spoke of the importance of our American democracy while on tour in Europe with the E Street Band.

“The America I’ve sung to you about for 50 years is real, and regardless of its faults is a great country with a great people,” said Springsteen each night of the tour.

Each night he also sang a song, “Long Walk Home,” about the sacredness of the American flag. No surprise from the guy who was “Born in the U.S.A.” — even if lyrics of the latter song is critical of the way America has treated its vets.

Today is also Bruce Springsteen Day in New Jersey.

“Bruce Springsteen is one of the most recognizable, iconic and influential musicians — and New Jerseyans — of all time,” said Gov. Phil Murphy in a statement when he announced the day in 2023. “It is important that we recognize Bruce for all he has done and will continue to do, from giving us the gift of his music to lending his time to the causes close to his heart.”