The Fourth of July. What does it mean to you? Is it just another holiday? Is it a bunch of history you were/are forced to learn every year in history class? Is it a grand, patriotic celebration of living in the land of the free and the brave – even though we are grandly flawed? Maybe it’s the best vacation of the year? Or is it a reminder of the pain and horrors you saw when you were in the service and fought for our freedom? (Thank you! Although a thank-you can’t erase the pain.) Or is it a painful reminder of loss? Loss of loved ones who died, so that we can still be free – to choose our religion, our preferred politics, our freedom of speech… Free to live a somewhat pampered life (though not all of us) compared to many other countries in the world. Free to complain, argue and disagree with our fellow Americans about beliefs, politics, preferences…
Anyone who has been through school – if they were paying attention in history class – knows the basic details of the day the Declaration of Independence was signed, which declared our independence from Great Britain. But did you know the actual day we should be celebrating our independence is July 2nd not the 4th? The 2nd is the exact date that Congress voted in favor of independence. Strictly speaking, our celebration date might even have been a month later, as that’s how long it took to get all the signatures on it. John Adams so believed that July 2 should have been our most historical date to remember, he reportedly turned down July 4th celebration invites the rest of his life. (Good thing he was an American – he had the freedom to do so!) Adams called for people to celebrate (on the 2nd) with “Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.” I’d say Mr. Adams must be pleased, if he’s looking down on us, as much of America does indeed still celebrate with parades, revelry, and fireworks. The spectacular firework displays all around the country must certainly fit his call for “bonfires and illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other.” There are over 16,000 displays throughout the nation.
As with all dates, there are a number of interesting facts to go along with it. On our first July 4th, 1776, America was home to only 2.5 million citizens. Now the population is over 326 million. Presidents John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe all died on the 4th of July (Do you suppose John Adams was annoyed?). The first July 4th celebration, hosted by Thomas Jefferson, took place at the White House in 1801 (What happened to the years in between? Next year’s blog?). Every July 4th, descendants of the signers of the Declaration of Independence tap the Liberty Bell 13 times in honor of the original 13 colonies. The 4th of July was declared a federal holiday in 1870, but wasn’t a paid holiday for federal employees until 1941. One World Trade Center in New York is 1,776 feet tall to mark the year the U.S. declared their freedom.
Independence Day data sees Americans spend $6.9 billion (recorded in 2018) on food, and in that mix, they eat about 150 million hot dogs (“enough to stretch from D.C. to L.A. more than five times,” says the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council), and is the number one holiday for beer sales. Macy’s fireworks show in New York City, still the largest, uses over 75,000 fireworks shells and costs about $6 million. Americans themselves spend over $1 billion on fireworks to celebrate the holiday.
And a last thought regarding interesting facts – especially with rumors of a potential change coming – the United States flag has had 27 different official versions. From 1777 to our present flag, changes were made due to the addition of stars to represent each new state.
We truly are blessed to live in a land where most of us live lives of relative abundance, where we can choose to climb out of our humanness, our dungeons, our slums (metaphorical as well as literal). But the downside of freedom can be selfishness, greed, cruelty… With freedom comes responsibility. Responsibility to keep our freedom intact, not just for ourselves and our loved ones, but for all Americans. Regardless of race or color, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Men and women of all backgrounds and races have fought for and died to maintain our freedom. All Americans deserve the right to freedom and liberty, to choose (without harming others) how they want to live and worship, vote and believe…because they are a citizen of the United States of America. That’s the ONLY qualification. Being an American.
Have a fantastic 4th of July! Celebrate the freedom that we’re still able to fight for (for everyone) even on our own soil. May we grow more united every year.
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