Have A Happy & Safe 4th of July Weekend

All of us here at uscity.net wish everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July Weekend!

Maybe today would be a good day to read the Declaration of Independence (The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America) - just click on this sentence!

About the Declaration of Independence

In the summer of 1776, the colonists' building desire for independence from England became an echoing call to action. Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence, which was then edited by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. Jefferson took their edits and incorporated them into what would become the version finally adopted. A call was made and on July 4, 1776 the 2nd Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence and soon the document was engrossed on parchment and 56 representatives from 13 colonies signed it.

Should we be celebrating July 2 or July 4 or August 2?

July 2, 1776 is the day that the Continental Congress actually voted for independence. John Adams, in his writings, even noted that July 2 would be remembered in the annals of American history and would be marked with fireworks and celebrations. The written Declaration of Independence was dated July 4 but wasn't actually signed until August 2. Fifty-six delegates eventually signed the document, although all were not present on that day in August.

Remember to be safe...

As we celebrate the USA's Independence, please remember to be safe while driving and especially as we celebrate with fireworks. Here are a few tips to make us safe while using fireworks~

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.
• Avoid buying fireworks that come in brown paper packaging, as this can often be a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and could pose a danger to consumers.
• Adults should always supervise fireworks activities. Parents often don't realize that there are many injuries from sparklers to children under five. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees - hot enough to melt some metals.
• Never have any portion of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Move back to a safe distance immediately after lighting.
• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not fully functioned.
• Never point or throw fireworks at another person.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
• Light one item at a time then move back quickly.
• Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.
• After fireworks fully complete their functioning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding to prevent a trash fire.

WISHING A HAPPY, HAPPY WEEKEND TO ALL OF YOU FROM USCITY.NET