4th of July Fun Facts 2016 #4thofJuly

The United States is turning 240 years old this year! That's amazing. Here are some really cool facts about our nation and the 4^th of July:

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, 2 of our founding fathers, died on the same day - 4^th July 1826.  50 years after the Declaration of Independence.

200 copies of the Declaration of Independence were drafted, but only 27 are accounted for.

Congress declared the 4^th of July an official holiday - in 1870!

The Star Spangled Banner was inspired by the War of 1812. A poem put to music, it became the USA's official national anthem in 1931.

President Calvin Coolidge was born on the 4^th of July - in 1872!

Benjamin Franklin was 70 years old when he signed the Declaration of Independence.

Really?? 87% of American flags are made in China.

The Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper.

It's all about the Fireworks!

The 4^th wouldn't be the 4^th without fireworks. 97% of fireworks in the USA come from China.

My favorite place to celebrate the 4^th of July is on Catalina Island. I love watching the fireworks explode over the bay. I also like seeing the golf cart parade. There's always a lot of variety. The USC marching band opens up the parade and plays in the casino in the evening. There's plenty of time to BBQ, too!

And the 4^th wouldn't be the 4^th without my Old Navy Flag Shirt.

The 4^th is a fun holiday to celebrate the birth of a nation, but let's not forget how unique it is. 

"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."

Have a great 4^th and thanks for stopping by!

Question: What do you do to make the 4^th special for you?