Happy 4th of July!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA

Only John Hancock actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. All the others signed later.

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.

The average age of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence was 45. The youngest was Thomas Lynch, Jr (27) of South Carolina.  The oldest delegate was Benjamin Franklin (70) of Pennsylvania. The lead author of The Declaration, Thomas Jefferson, was 33.

One out of eight signers of the Declaration of Independence were educated at Harvard (7 total).

The White House held its first 4th of July party in 1801.

President John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe all died on the Fourth. Adams and Jefferson (both signed the Declaration) died on the same day within hours of each other in 1826.

Congress made Independence Day an official unpaid holiday for federal employees in 1870. In 1938, Congress changed Independence Day to a paid federal holiday.

ROGER ROTH: Featured on Illustrator Saturday. http://www.rogerroth.com

The stars on the original American flag were in a circle so all the Colonies would appear equal.

Fourth of July

Hot dogs served with chips and pickles,
Shriners riding motorcycles,
Kids all marching, two by two,
Dressed in red and white and blue.

Clowns with flags and bright red noses,
Flashing smiles and throwing roses.
Trotting horses, furry dogs,
Racing turtles, jumping frogs.

Firecrackers bursting bright,
glittering the starry night.
And all the people, everywhere
have come together, here and there,

to celebrate and just to say,
“A Happy Birthday, USA!”

by Carol Murray
http://www.carolmurray.net

DEBORAH CUNEO:  www.deborahcuneoillustration.com deborahcuneo.blogspot.com

RASHIN KHEIRIYEH: Featured on Illustrator Saturday. http://www.rashinart.com/

BURGANDY BEAM: http://wilkinsonstudios.com/bio-new.cfm?peopID=2&PortID=0

JUAN CAMINADOR:  juancaminadorilustraciones.blogspot.com/

SUSAN SWAN: Featured on Illustrator Saturday. http://www.susanswan.com

LOUISE GARDNER: Featured on Illustrator Saturday www.facebook.com/LouiseGardnerDraws

BETSY SNYDER: Featured on Illustrator Saturday. http://www.betsysnyder.com

AMALIA HOFFMAN: Featured on Illustrator Saturday.

RON MAHONEY: www.ronmahoney.com/index.html 

RACHEL DOUGHERTY: Featured on Illustrator Saturday.  http://www.racheldougherty.com/.  

MARLA F JONES: http://www.doodleandpeck.com

Hope you enjoy your day!

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy