Today is America’s favorite holiday for parades, fireworks, and backyard barbecues. But from a historical perspective, let us not forget that it was on July 4th, 1776 that the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress representing freedom for our nation’s 13 original colonies. Over the years, some interesting facts have been compiled about this festive summer holiday that might spark an interesting discussion at your picnic or dinner table.
For instance, did you know that there are 30 American cities with the word “liberty” in their name. The one with the greatest number of residents is Liberty, Missouri. This is the same state that has the largest population for a place called Independence. Makes you wonder if the “show me” state is more patriotic than others.
It’s estimated that more than 74 million people in the U.S. will celebrate July 4th with a barbecue cookout. And on this very American holiday, it’s a little ironic that 99 percent of all fireworks sold legally in this country are imported from China. Also, the majority of our nation’s flags are produced in China as well. Germany, by the way, is the leading purchaser of American-made fireworks. Go figure!
Now for some dates that will stump most of your friends. The first public Fourth of July reception at the White House was in 1801. The formal presentation of the Statue of Liberty took place in 1884 in the Gauthier workshop in Paris, France. And it was in 1960 that the first American flag with 50 stars was raised to the sky in celebration of statehood for Hawaii.
And finally, don’t forget that Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national animal but he was outvoted by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson who chose the bald eagle. Betsy Ross sewed the flag but historians believe it was designed by Francis Hopkinson, a New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress. And last but certainly not least, an estimated 150 million hot dogs will be eaten today. There’s no reliable data for how much medicine will be sold for upset stomachs.
Happy 4th of July!
