TO MY AMERICAN
COUSINS “!”
In 1780
Massachusetts’s patriot John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail, outlining his
vision of how American culture might evolve:
"I must
study politics and war," he prophesied so "that our sons and
daughters may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy." They will
add to their studies geography, navigation, commerce and agriculture. He
continued, so that their children may enjoy the "right to study painting,
poetry & music"
TEN
SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT THE 4TH OF JULY:
Everyone loves
Independence Day, the quintessential American holiday, full of parades,
picnics, and surprising
facts? You bet!
Be the life of the party share a few of these tasty nuggets of knowledge with
your fellow picnickers this year.
1. Independence
Day commemorates the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July
4, 1776. However, it was not declared a legal holiday until 1941.
2. The signing
of the declaration was not completed until August 1776, the Fourth of July
holiday has been
accepted as the
official anniversary of U.S. independence.
3. Uncle Sam was
first popularized during the War of 1812, when the term appeared on supply
containers. Believe it or not, the U. S. Congress didn't adopt him as a
national symbol until 1961.
4. There are
many precise rules for taking care of the American flag. And speaking of flag
traditions, we're sorry to report that contrary to legend, historical research
has failed to confirm that Betsy Ross sewed the first flag.
5. Not all
members of the Continental Congress supported a formal Declaration of
Independence, but those who did were passionate about it. One representative
rode 80 miles by horseback to reach
Philadelphia and
break a tie vote in support of independence.
6. The first two
versions of the Liberty Bell were defective and had to be melted down and
recast. The third version rang every Fourth of July from 1778 to 1835, when,
according to tradition, it cracked as it was being tolled for the death of
Chief Justice John Marshall.
7. The American
national anthem, the "Star-Spangled
Banner" is
set to the tune the English song ("To Anacreon in Heaven").
8. The iron
framework of the Statue of Liberty was devised by French engineer
Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, who also built the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
9. The patriotic
poem "America the Beautiful" was
published on
July 4, 1895 by Wellesley College professor Katharine Lee Bates*.
10. Father of
the country and architect of independence George Washington held his first
public office at the tender age of 17. He continued in public service until his
death in 1799.
Again, Happy 4th
of July, 2012!!!
from your
Canadian Cousin - Sir Richard...
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