Washington Post: Fourth of July

THE FOU RTH OF JULY In Facts and Figures ABOUT 1 in 3 STARS & STRIPES The odds that your side dish of baked beans On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Second Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. The holiday offers a break from business, with a host of parades, fireworks and barbecues. Put down your muskets and enjoy! originated in North Dakota, "Resolved, that the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field representing a new constellation." -adopted in Philadelphia by the Second Continental Congress, June 14, 1777 NORE THAN 1 in 4 + ++ .000 Make a request through your senator or representative. A Certificate of Authenticity is issued by There is a good chance youar You can buy a flag that's flown over the chicken * BARBECUED .00 0 the Architect of the Capitol with each flag flown. $2.5 MILLION The chance that the hot dogs and pork sausages consumed on the Fourth of July originated in Iowa. $209 million CAPITOL NORTH CAROLINA, ALABAMA MISSISSIPPI came from GEORGIA, ARKANSAS, By comparison, the U.S. exported $42.9 MILLION The amount of U.S. imports of American fiags in million in fireworks. The value of fireworks imported from China in 2009, representing the bulk imported. or TEXAS PICNIC PACK A GRORGR WASHINGTON'S The United KATION'S FILST PRESIDENT CRANBERRY PODDING FOR A FINE CELEBRATION, THE 2009. of all U.S. fireworka Arab Emirates bought more than any other country: S14.5 might have enjoyed cranberry 2 EGGS, BEATEN *21 SUGAR * PINCH SALT* 1/2C MOLASSES *2TSPBAKING SODA Prices range from $13.25 million. worth came from pudding, a colonlal favorite. Recipe ton he Moant Veman Cotook China. 1/3 C BOILING WATER*11/2C SIFTED FLOUR *11/2 C CRANBERRIES, HALVED Steam in a buttered rice steamer for 11/2 hours. Serve warm with the following AUC: Combine eggs, sugar, sait and molasses. In a separate container, put 2 toaspoons of soda in 1/3 cup bolling water. Add to egg mirture. Stir in flour and cranberries 31 towns Washington (think: George) ranked 138th among al last names in the 2000 Census. across the land have "Wberty" in their name. The biggest is Liberty, Mo. (POP. 30.568J. 2 sticks butter*2 cups sugar *1 cup half-and-half. Melt butter. Add ougar and half-and-half and stir until sugar is dissolved. Serves 6 to 8. UNCLE SAM NEEDS YOU! in 1843, the U.s. government set up an account to accept gits from people wishing to express their patriotism. These days, the money is directed to pay down the debt, In 2009, people sent $3.063.057.05. So far this year: (John, John Quincy) came in Adams There is one place named Patriot ets $2,451,266.91. 39th. BUY BRITISH are coming! "AMERICA SINCE 1935, (POP. 189). It's in Indiana The "DOODLE," when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed legislation creating the first "baby bond," U.S. Savings Bonds have encouraged saving and a found in old English dictionaries, meant a sorry, trifling fellow; a fool or simpleton. One theory suggests that "YANKEE" "DANDY" broad particlpation by Americans in govemment $93.2 BILLION between the United States and Britain, making the British. our adversary in 1776, our soth-leading trading survived as a (or "Yankey") was derived description of a gentieman of affected manners, dress and hairstyle. Value of trade last year from "Nankey," which can be found in an unpleasant ingle about Oliver Cromwell. financing {25 309.8 NOI7TIR) partner today. TREASURE HUNT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS YANKEE ADOODLEF estimated population in in savings bonds have stopped earning interest but haven't been cashed. If you still have one, cash or reinvest it so your money can start working for you again. nation's population now is one of America's oldest and most-loved marching airs. All taken, "Yankee Doodle" is a comic song and a parody. Indeed, the British estimated Auty 1776 ILLI0 made fun of ragtag American militiamen by playing "Yankee Doodle" even as they headed toward the Battle of Lexington and Concord. MEXICO bouge $333,882 worth of U.S. fiegs in 2009. o o e tu+s anyd) $22.55 *++ + + + +