Happy Birthday USA! (almost)

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

 

The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

The USA celebrates its 234th birthday this weekend on July 4th. Here’s  some online research results about the month and holiday – ain’t technology great? 
July 1 is the 182nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar that leaves 183 days left until year end – plenty of time to holiday shop!
July is the 7th month on the Gregorian calendar. On the Roman calendar, it was the 5th month – Quintile. Julius Caesar gave the month 31 days. The Roman Senate named it Julius, in his honor.  When the Romans moved the beginning of the year to January 1, the names of the months remained the same and July retained its number of days.
July is the hottest summer month of the year in the Northern Hemisphere; it’s a winter month in the Southern Hemisphere.
Independence Day is celebrated in other countries too in July: 
July 1, is  Canada Day (formerly Dominion Day or Canada’s birthday). France celebrates independence with Bastille Day on July 14. Venezuela celebrates Independence Day on July 5; Argentina on
July 9; Belgium on July 21; Peru on July 28.

Patriotism by the 1, 2, 3 ... etc.
31 places have “liberty” in their name. While Liberty, Missouri has the most people, Iowa has the most places (4)  with Libertyville,  New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty.
31 places are named “eagle”and ones with the most people are Eagle Pass, Texas and Eagle County, Colorado.
12 places have "independence" in their name. The most populated is Independence, Missouri.
5 places adopted the name “freedom.” Freedom, California, is the largest . But this state always does things BIG.
1 place is named "patriot.” Patriot, Indiana with less than 200 residents. So few and so proud.
5 places are named “America.” The most populated is American Fork, Utah.
Over 66 million - Americans have said they have taken part in a barbecue during the previous year; most likely on July 4^th.
WAIT – There’s More . . .

• Independence Day was first celebrated in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776.
• “Patriotism” comes from the Latin patria, which means ‘homeland” or “fatherland.”
• Betsy Ross supposedly sewed the first American flag in May or June 1776, as commissioned by the Congressional Committee.
• The Liberty Bell sounded from the tower of Independence Hall on July 8, 1776, summoning citizens to gather for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence.
• The signers of the Declaration of Independence had their names withheld from the public for over six months. If independence had not been achieved, they would have been legally killed for treason.
• The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence did not sign at the same time, nor did they sign on July 4, 1776. The official event occurred August 2, 1776 when 50 men signed.
• Thomas McKean was the last to sign in January, 1777.
• First public July 4th event at the White House was in 1804.
• On June 24, 1826, Thomas Jefferson sent a letter declining an invitation to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in Washington, DC. It was the last letter the gravely ill Jefferson ever wrote.
• Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on Independence Day, July 4, 1826.
• Before cars, July 4th was the most miserable day of the year for horses. They were tormented by the noise and by youngsters, who tossed firecrackers.
• In 1941, Congress declared July  4th a federal legal holiday. It is one of the few federal holidays that have not been moved to the nearest Friday or Monday.

Where Do Most BBQ Foods Come From ?
Beef has a 1-in-6 chance of coming from Texas which is the leader in the production of cattle and calves.
Chicken probably came from one of the 5 top broiler-producing states: Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, North Carolina and Mississippi.
Lettuce is grown in California, which accounts for nearly three-quarters of USA lettuce production.
Fresh tomatoes are from Florida or California, which produced more than two-thirds of U.S. tomatoes.
Ketchup is again from California  which accounted for 95 percent of processed tomato production last year.
Potatoes for salad, potato chips or fries  come from Idaho  and Washington which produce about one-half of the nation's spuds.
Watermelons are grown the most in 6 states: California, Florida, Texas, Georgia, Arizona and Indiana — which combined produce 80 % of watermelons.
 
 

Happy Independence Day - USA