Howard Michael Madaus who was 63, died on July 22 after a brief illness. He was known as an expert on American flags as well as dealt with military weapons. He wrote many books on US Civil War flags and wrote many articles on the subject. He was also involved in many museums. Some called him the “the godfather of Confederate Vexillology”.
From the Flaginform #203 newsletter from the Flag Research Center.
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Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist
Thomas Jefferson was the author of one of our most important historical documents, The Declaration of Independence, and our country’s third President. The document was born out of the original thirteen colonies’ dissatisfaction with the rule of Great Britain.
The Declaration was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776 and signed by most of the delegates on August 2, 1776. Today, it is on display in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
The American Revolution began in 1775, but the events that soured the relationship between the colonies and The British Crown started much earlier. The British government taxed the colonies to help offset the cost of The Seven Years’ War with France. The colonial citizens were enraged because they did not have a representative in parliament. The tensions escalated from there and The American Revolution did not end until 1783, when The Treaty of Paris was signed, recognizing America as independent.
The first two versions of the Liberty Bell were defective and had to be melted down and recast. The third version rang every Fourth of July from 1778 to 1835, when, according to legend, it cracked as it was being tolled for the death of Chief Justice John Marshall.
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Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist
John Quincy Adams
This is something that I’ve always wondered and was surprised by what I found out. Well the first 4th of July parade wasn’t on a street as they are today.
It really was a parade of boats on the Potomac River in Washington, DC. President John Quincy Adams and a group of American and foreign dignitaries boarded a steamboat and led a procession of barges and other boats up the river to the site today known as The Tidal Basin. They then transferred to smaller boats, floated up the old Washington Canal to the place that had been selected for the new Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. President Adams did the groundbreaking there for the waterway canal to cut straight through the heart of Washington DC between the Capitol building and Washington Monument.
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American History | Tagged: how did parades start, john adams, parade history, president john adams | 
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Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist
Declaration of Independence
There’s a great website that interprets the Declaration of Independence. You can read how it was actually written and then click on asterisks to see an interpretation of it in simple terms. This is a great way to gain knowledge of one of our most important documents in the US.
After you read up on the in-depth look into this document then you can take a quiz to test your knowledge of the events surrounding the signing of this historic declaration.
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Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist
Fireworks in San Diego
The Fourth of July is the birthday of our nation. Today, we celebrate and enjoy the freedom that comes with the event that made this day so special.
Thomas Jefferson, is the author of the Declaration of Independence. He led a committee that crafted the declaration between June 11-28, 1776. Jefferson and other discontented representatives from the thirteen colonies, voted and approved it on July 4, 1776. The document declared freedom for the 13 colonies from British rule. It currently resides in the Exhibition Hall of the National Archive in Washington, D.C.
Did you know? The Declaration of Independence was not signed by all representatives until August, 1776. To make it official, John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress signed it. Now you know where the saying “put your John Hancock on it” came from!?!
Today, we enjoy the benefits of the freedom which our men and women of the military have fought for. For us, it is a time for baseball, hot dogs and family picnics. Summer is in full swing and life is good.
Fourth of July is not complete without parades and fireworks. Fireworks are enjoyed by almost everyone. You should have your choice of several locations in your area on the Fourth, or even the day before. Many cottage owners on lakes will set out flares along the shore creating a “Ring of Fire”. Add to this an abundance of fireworks, and you have quite a display. Don’t forget your American flag!
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Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist
As you can imagine July 4th is a big day for the US. It’s our Independence Day. We take one day annually to commemorate the formal adoption by the Continental Congress of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia. Although the signing of the Declaration was not completed until August, the Fourth of July holiday has been accepted as the official anniversary of U.S. independence and is celebrated in all states and territories of the U.S.
The holiday was first observed in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776, at which time the Declaration of Independence was read aloud, city bells rang, and bands played. It was not declared a legal holiday, however, until 1941. The Fourth is traditionally celebrated publicly with parades and pageants, patriotic speeches, and organized firing of guns and cannons and displays of fireworks; early in the 20th century public concern for a “safe and sane” holiday resulted in restrictions on general use of fireworks. Family picnics and outings are a feature of private Fourth of July celebrations.
This holiday usually marks the middle of the summer for most similarly Memorial Day marks the beginning and Labor Day marks the end of the summer.
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Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist
The fireworks imported from China into the United States were valued at $216 million, in 2006.
Japan purchases more fireworks than any other country.
The projected number of U.S. residents will be 302 million by July 4, 2007.
It is estimated that there were 2.5 million people living in the colonies in July 1776.
There are 30 places in the United States with the word “liberty” in their name.
There are 11 places in the United States with the word “independence” in their name.
There are five places in the United States with the word “freedom” in their name.
There are five places in the United States with the word “America” in their name.
There is one city in Indiana named “Patriot.”
The U.S. flags imported into the United States were valued at $5 million, in 2006.
The estimated amount of hot dogs eaten by Americans on the Fourth of July is 150 million.
One-half of the potatoes made for chips or salad at an Independence Day cookout were grown in Idaho or Washington.
Approximately 74 million Americans participated in a Fourth of July barbecue in 2006.
The number of foreign-born residents in the United States was 34 million in 2004 and 53 percent of that amount were born in Latin America.
The number of immigrants granted legal permanent residence in the United States was 706,000, in 2003.
The number of immigrants who became naturalized citizens in the United States was 463,000, in 2003.
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Posted by Lexi the Vexillologist
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