HAPPY INDEPENDANCE DAY AMERICA
POINTS OF INTEREST ABOUT THE 4TH OF JULY
Observance
- In 1777, thirteen gunshots were fired in salute, once at morning and once again as evening fell, on July 4 in Bristol, Rhode Island. Philadelphia celebrated the first anniversary in a manner a modern American would find quite familiar: an official dinner for the Continental Congress, toasts, 13-gun salutes, speeches, prayers, music, parades, troop reviews, and fireworks. Ships were decked with red, white, and blue bunting.[13]
- In 1778, General George Washington marked July 4 with a double ration of rum for his soldiers and an artillery salute. Across the Atlantic Ocean, ambassadors John Adams and Benjamin Franklin held a dinner for their fellow Americans in Paris, France.[14]
- In 1779, July 4 fell on a Sunday. The holiday was celebrated on Monday, July 5.[14]
- In 1781 the Massachusetts General Court became the first state legislature to recognize July 4 as a state celebration.[14]
- In 1783, Moravians in Salem, North Carolina, held a celebration of July 4 with a challenging music program assembled by Johann Friedrich Peter. This work was titled "The Psalm of Joy".
- In 1791 the first recorded use of the name "Independence Day" occurred.
- In 1820 the first Fourth of July celebration was held in Eastport, Maine which remains the largest in the state.[15]
- In 1870, the U.S. Congress made Independence Day an unpaid holiday for federal employees.[16]
- In 1938, Congress changed Independence Day to a paid federal holiday.[17]
HAVE A WONDERFUL 4TH OF JULY FROM MY HOUSE TO YOURS
BLESSINGS TO YOU AND TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
LOVE,
JEANNE
Hi Jeanne! Oh, this is some good info to know. I must confess, I don't know a lot about the American Revolution and need to study up on it. I do know I'm so thankful for all these men and the families they left behind went through for our freedom.
I hope you and Bill have a wonderful 4th! We're going to some friends house for barbeque tonight and then we'll have the parade tonight!
Keep cool and you're always a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Posted by: Shelia | July 04, 2012 at 08:38 AM
Happy 4th of July Jeanne! Have a great day:@)
Posted by: HappierThanAPigInMud | July 04, 2012 at 09:47 AM
Happy 4th sweet Jeanne!
Blessings to you and your family:)
Enjoy your day,
Kay Ellen
Posted by: Kay Ellen | July 04, 2012 at 01:29 PM
God bless our wonderful country. The Fourth of July is a day filled with emotion for me.
Posted by: Beverly | July 05, 2012 at 09:35 AM