INDEPENDENCE DAY, JULY 4TH, 2013
It's the middle of summer, and that makes this holiday the perfect time for a long, relaxing day of fun and frolic, topped off by a night of fireworks to commemorate the rocket's red glare back when our forefathers were fighting for their independence.
In the spirit of the day, I did a little checking about the history of Independence Day. Guess what? They didn't tell us the whole story in grade school! In case you're interested, read on to find out what I discovered:
The original resolution (to cut the apron strings from Mother Britain) was introduced to the Continental Congress on June 17, 1776.
Then Thomas Jefferson and a willing committee put their heads together to polish up a formal writing for the grand announcement.
The actual resolution was approved on July 2 but the Declaration of Independence (a separate document) was adopted on July 4, 1776.
It took days, weeks, and in one case, years before all the signatures on the Declaration were in place. Thomas McKean didn't get his signature on the page until 1781!
Exactly one year after the Declaration was approved, Philadelphia held a huge birthday party for the infant republic. But the first official (by legislative act) celebration was held in 1781 in Massachusetts.
OK, friends, class is over. Eat, drink, and be merry! Independence is worth celebrating!
