The Nation's Birthday Celebration 2008

Put a candle on the cake and sing Happy Birthday. If you are a history buff and want to be accurate, put 232 candles on the cake because we are now 232 years old.

Happy birthday to you.

Happy birthday to you.

Happy birthday, dear America.

Happy birthday to you!

Then make a wish for our nation and blow out the candle/candles.

Some Fourth of July Trivia For You.

In 1771 Bristol, Rhode Island celebrated the first birthday with a 13-gun salute both in the morning and in the evening.

In 1778 George Washington celebrated the second birthday with a double order of rum for his troops fighting the Revolutionary War.

In 1826 both Thomas Jefferson of Virginia and John Adams of Massachusetts died on July 4.

In 1831 former President James Monroe of Virginia died on July 4.

In 1863 the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania was coping with the task of burying over 7000 soldiers and caring for 30,000 wounded soldiers from the three day Battle of Gettysburg on July 4. The battle had ended on July 3, 1863.

In 1946 Ron Kovic, disabled Vietnam vet was born on July 4. Tom Cruise played him in the movie, Born on the Fourth of July.

In 1959 Alaska became a state and the 49 star flag was unfurled on the Fourth of July.

In 1960 Hawaii became a state and the 50 star flag was unfurled on the Fourth of July.

In 1976 the United States celebrated its bicentennial.