A few interested facts to share on the 4th of July.
- Most flags sold in the United States are made in China, nearly $4,000,000.00 worth.
- Independence Day wasn't adopted until 1870 and it wasn't until 1938 that Congress made it a paid federal holiday.
- Only two signers of the Declaration of Independence would later serve as Presidents--John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
- The first Independence Day celebration took place in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776. This was also the day that the Declaration of Independence was first read in public after people were summoned by the ringing of the Liberty Bell.
- Founding father, Benjamin Franklin proposed the turkey as our national bird but it was overruled by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
- Today's population is over 316 million. In 1776 our nation had 2.5 million people living in it, about the size of Chicago.
- The US imports nearly $250,000,000.00 of fireworks from China, while we export just over $12,000,000.00 with the highest percentage going to Israel.
- Over 11,000 people will visit the emergency room for fireworks injuries on the 4th.
- On July 4th our nation will consume nearly 150,000,000 hot dogs and 350,000 tons of chicken.
- Every 4th the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia is tapped thirteen times in honor of the original thirteen colonies.
- The melody of the National Anthem was originally used by the English as a drinking song called “to Anacreon in Heaven.”
- George Washington gave his soldiers double rations of rum to mark their independence. Now, beer sales tops $1,000,000,000.00 on July 4th.
- July 4th is also celebrated as the day of liberation in both the Philippines and Rwanda.