^{Did you know that legal separation  of the 13 colonies from Brittan happened on July 2, 1776?}

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more^."

^{~John Adams} 

^{(in a letter to his wife, Abigail)}

^{He was off by two days... the new Americans decided to use the date that}

^{the Declaration of Independence was dated.}

^{Isn't that interesting?}

^{Here's another interesting fact...}

^{Most historians believe that while it was dated July 4,1776}

^{that it was actually signed on August 2,1776...}

^{Which was the date that Congress actually} 

^{adopted it.}

^{Gee... Congress bickering over an issue for two months...}

^{I guess some things haven't changed that much.}

^=;D

^{And here's another interesting related tid bit...}

^{John Adams and Thomas Jefferson...}

^{the only two signers of our great Declaration}

^{to become Presidents}

^{both died on} 

^{July 4,1826}

^{which was the 50th anniversary} 

^{of the date on our Declaration of Independence's official date.}

^{The actual war for our independence began in 1775}

^{and lasted through 1783.}

^{Once we were established as an independent country,}

^{wars over territories and land continued.}

^{One such battle...}

^{The Battle for New Orleans}

^{was begun by the British invasion there in an attempt to take from the young Americans the lands we gained through the Louisiana Purchase.}

^{I heard this song as a kid and loved it for its humor.}

^{But I think it also shows} 

^{our forefathers for what they were...}

^{common people; shop owners, farmers, tradesmen, etc.}

^{who did not always have the fancy dress uniforms}

^{and did not always follow the regulation rules of war of that time...}

^{Who through their creativity, savvy and determination}

^{proved that we would stand up for our rights}

^{and stand on our own.}

^{Okay... its not the 4th of July yet,
but it is the 2nd of July,
which should be remembered as the day our delcaration
of independence was legally established.}

<sup>You gotta love history!


We will be barbecuing this 4th...
Did you expect us to do anything else?
Friends who often don't show up when they say they will
are supposed to come by.
So we'll see about that.
But with them or by ourselves,
we will drag our lawn chairs to the end of the driveway...
and watch all the fireworks go off up and down the street.
Roxy hates loud bangs
(She's from east LA)
So she'll be in the living room listening to 
the stereo cranked on high.
Whatever you do... enjoy!</sup>