Happy Fourth of July dear readers! Today, we celebrate the land of the free and the home of the brave – the good ol' US of A! It's a day filled with fireworks, parades, and of course, let's not forget those copious amounts of alcohol – after all, nothing says patriotism like a good old BBQ with friends and family!
Now, we all know the basics about this historical holiday – the Continental Congress declaring independence from King George III and signing the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776, but here are some fun and lesser-known facts about this famous day that might just leave you in a little more awe of our great nation!
Let's start with an interesting coincidence. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, two of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, both became Presidents of the United States! And believe it or not, they both kicked the bucket on July 4th, 1826, on the 50th anniversary of that very document. Talk about leaving a patriotic legacy until the very end!
But they weren't the only ones with an affinity for this historic date. James Monroe, another one of our Founding Fathers, also decided to shuffle off this planet on July 4th, 1831. Can you imagine the party at the pearly gates?
Speaking of presidential connections, did you know that Calvin Coolidge was born on July 4th, 1872? It's like the stars and stripes were destined to be part of his life from the very beginning. Maybe he had sparklers as his birthday candles!
Now, it wouldn't be Independence Day without some good old-fashioned revelry. Back in 1778, our beloved George Washington made sure his troops celebrated the occasion with a bang – literally! He gave his soldiers a double ration of rum. "Inebriation Day" does have a certain ring to it, don't you think?
And the party didn't stop there. Massachusetts was the trendsetter, becoming the first state to recognize July 4th as an official state holiday. Soon after, the US Congress decided to follow suit and made it a holiday for federal employees in 1870. To sweeten the deal, they even made it a paid holiday in 1938. Now that's what I call a celebration!
Remember that old saying, "One for each state"? Well, it turns out there's some truth to it. At noon on July 4th, military bases across the country fire a "Salute to the Union" with one gun for each state in the US. I bet the sound of freedom is quite thunderous!
But wait, there's more! The oldest continuous Independence Day celebration has been happening since 1785 in Bristol, Rhode Island. Those folks sure know how to keep the patriotic spirit alive!
So, as we enjoy our BBQs and embrace the joy of having a day off from work, let's take a moment to cherish these fun facts about the Fourth of July. It's not just about waving flags and watching fireworks (although that is pretty fun); it's about the remarkable history that binds us together as proud Americans.
And hey, if you happen to be in the market for a new home this busy week, fear not! Your friendly royal Realtor is here to help you find the perfect place to call home. Because nothing screams "I love my country" like securing the American dream!
So let's raise our glasses – or better yet, a double ration of rum – to the land of liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Happy Fourth of July, everyone! God bless America
Signed,
Sherri Myers
The Royal Realtor
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