Happy 4th of July Hokies!
Hi Hokies, Dottie here—
I can't believe the Fourth of July is this weekend! Quarantine made it feel like time was dragging, yet here we are, preparing to celebrate Independence Day! With the holiday coming up, I wanted to provide a bit of background information on why we celebrate with fireworks on the Fourth of July. According to Reader's Digest, John Adams wrote a letter to his wife before the signing of the Declaration of Independence saying that the celebration of America's freedom “ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”
The American people seemed to have agreed with Adams' proposal and have carried out the tradition each year since. This year, even with its setbacks, will be no different. Blacksburg and Christiansburg will be holding firework celebrations in these locations:
- Property of the Old Blacksburg High School at 9:30 pm on July 4
No rain date
- Fireworks can be viewed from the New River Valley Mall or Walmart parking lots in Christiansburg and start around 9:15 pm on July 4
Rain date for July 5
Extra Fun Facts about the 4th of July
1. Americans will enjoy 150 million hot dogs during the 4th
2. Only two men signed the declaration of independence on July 4, 1776
3. The designer of the 50-star flag lived in Lancaster, Ohio
5. The first 4th of July celebrations weren't much different than today's
6. Massachusetts was the first state to recognize the holiday
7. Three US presidents have died on July 4 including John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe
8. The tradition of setting off fireworks began in Philadelphia on July 4, 1777
9. The Pennsylvania Evening Post was the first newspaper to print the Declaration on July 6, 1776
10. Other countries celebrate the Fourth of July as a way to bring in American tourists
I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Fourth of July weekend!
xoxo Dottie