Odd Things on the 4th

Today, July 4, is Independence Day, a U.S. federal holiday celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Ironically, though the holiday is referred to as "The Fourth of July” this date has NO historic significance. 

WHY? because Congress approved a declaration of independence on July 2, 1776. Founding Father, and later second President, John Adams had anticipated this would be the most important date in U.S. history

After the official Declaration was approved, the first printed copies were displayed on broadsheets (newspapers printed on large sheets of paper) put up in cities throughout the nation that read: “In Congress, July 4, 1776” and that date stuck.

However, Adams didn't recognize July 4 as Independence Day. His belief was that it should be celebrated on July 2, when the resolution for independence was passed by the Continental Congress.

Thomas Jefferson & John Adams

Years later, another twist of fate became connected with July 4. when it became the same date that three U.S. Presidents, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe died on — two in the same year. 

Not only did Jefferson (83) and Adams (90) die in 1825 on July 4, but this date also marked the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Now, that was really a very odd coincidence.

At their deaths, they were described as "frenemies" — friends early on, then in 1800, differing views led them to not speak to one other for over a decade. In 1812, the two started writing and eventually sent over 185 letters to each other. At best, the renewed friendship remained tense.

While both men had been ill. Adams was thought to be in better health until a few months before. Whereas, Jefferson had been ill for several months. He's also said to have refused a dose of laudanum (a painkiller of opium and high-proof alcohol) the night before he died. Jefferson died shortly after noon in Monticello, VA. Several hours later Adams died in Quincy, MA. The nation’s second and third presidents were friends; however news did not travel fast back then, so they were unaware of each other’s passing.

Over the years, whether the deaths of Jefferson and Adams was coincidence or divine intervention has been the subject of scholarly debate. Scholars have tried to pinpoint the odds of a statistically unlikely event happening. Jefferson and Adams didn’t only die on the same day, with an already low probability of 1 in 365. but on the same significant date and historic anniversary. 

Among the explanations is one that proposes that proposed both men purposely hung on for the 50th anniversary, which isn't such an unusual phenomenon. It's been documented that people have been kept themselves alive until they’ve said final goodbyes to loved ones or experienced a significant event. So, it's not impossible that Adams and Jefferson’s "will to live" kept them alive before July 4th, then gave out afterwards.

James Monroe & Calvin Coolidge

Five years after Jefferson and Adams died, the fifth U.S. President James Monroe died at age 73 on July 4, 1831 from tuberculosis. 

Although three U.S. Presidents died on July 4, only one was born on this date. Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President was born on July 4, 1872 in VT.

Other presidents born in the month of July, besides Coolidge, included John Quincy Adams, Gerald R. Ford and George W. Bush. (Adams, the eldest son of former President John Adams, served as the sixth U.S. President, 1825 to 1829.)

Nashua, NH,  fireworks

We're staying home on the holiday and will be walking downtown to City Hall for a veterans flag-raising event. In years past, we joined other mill apartment residents in gathering at the pocket park along the Nashua River to watch a fireworks display from Holman Stadium, the local ball field. That won't happen this year because of ongoing construction at the park.

We won't miss a fireworks display and instead we'll watch the Washington, DC, display on PBS.

On Saturday, we'll attend a performance, "America the Beautiful," by the Soldiers Chorus of the United States Army Field Band at the Nashua Center for the Arts in downtown Nashua, NH. Since being formed in March 1946, this military touring musical organization has performed over 400 concerts annually, including performances in all 50 states and in over 30 countries on 4 continents. 

Soldiers Chorus of the United States Army Field Band (Internet source)

In previous years, we've attended similar performances by other military bands, including The President's Own United States Marine Band, United States Navy Band and the United States Air Force Band. In addition to these concerts being performed by skilled musicians and vocalists, they are always NO Charge to the public. This is a must-see event that's highly recommended if you ever have the opportunity to attend one of these performances.