“He who is brave is free.”
Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Independence Day is fast approaching. The holiday has been
celebrated as the birth of American independence, with festivities ranging from fireworks,
parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues.
Here are some interesting facts about our nation’s birthday:
- July 4 has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of
Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century. On July 2, 1776, the
Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later, delegates from
the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence. - John Adams believed that July 2 should have been recognized as our Independence Day,
as it was the day the Continental Congress accepted the declaration. Some changes were
made, and the final wording was approved on July 4. Adams reportedly turned down invitations to July 4
celebrations throughout his life. - Most historians have concluded that only John Hancock and Charles Thompson signed
the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and that it was signed by
the others on Aug. 2, nearly a month after its adoption. - Congress declared July 4 an official holiday in 1870 as part of a bill to officially
recognize other holidays, Christmas being one of them. - The average age of those who signed the Declaration of Independence was 45. The
youngest, at age 26, were Thomas Lynch, Jr. and Edward Rutledge, both of South
Carolina. The oldest delegate was Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania at age 70. Thomas
Jefferson was 33. - On July 6, 1776, the Pennsylvania Evening Post became the first newspaper to print the
now-historic Declaration of Independence. - Presidents John Adams, age 90, and Thomas Jefferson, 82, both died within five
hours of each other on July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years after the declaration. - Thomas Jefferson was the first president to hold a Fourth of July celebration at the White
House in 1801. - According to the National Sausage and Hot Dog Council, Americans are
expected to eat 150 million hot dogs over the July 4th holiday. - When the Declaration of Independence was signed, the U.S. population was 2.5 million, compared with 347,206,416 today.
On behalf of the Voorhees Township Committee, have a safe, happy and meaningful 4th of
July!
Summer hours for town hall will be in effect until Tuesday, Sept. 2. Township offices will be open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and closed on Friday.
The summer Thursday night concert series at Connolly Park returns Thursday at 7 p.m , and will feature The FM Band. The second show is at the same time and will feature Tramps Like Us, a Bruce Springsteen tribute band. On Aug. 21, also at 7, The Beat Tells will perform their tribute to the Beatles. A Dooney’s Pub mobile bar and a variety of food trucks will be at each show.
For more information, visit voorheesnj.com, the township Facebook page or call the show hotline at (856) 882-SHOW.
