Hello , and welcome to Friday Coffee with MAP!

Tomorrow, those of us in the States will celebrate the 4th of July– which is why we are pleased to bring you the first ever THURSDAY Coffee with MAP newsletter! To celebrate America’s 249th birthday, we thought we’d take a second to dive in on surprising, lesser known aspects of how the 4th of July holiday came to be.

We hope you find a moment this 4th of July to reflect on your connection to this country and its history—and also take time to rest, relax, and recharge.

Happy reading!

4 Stunning Facts about July 4th and America’s Independence
_{by Billy Hallowell for The Great American Journal}

____________________________________________________________________________

As Americans get ready to celebrate Independence Day with cookouts, fireworks, and other festivities, it’s worth taking a moment to remember the history behind this national holiday.

On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence. Two days later, delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. The day has been celebrated nationally ever since.

Here are some lesser known aspects of the holiday:

July 2 vs. July 4: Because the Continental Congress actually declared freedom from Britain on July 2, 1776, many– including founding father John Adams, believed that should be the day we celebrated the country’s independence. On July 3, 1776, Adams wrote to his wife, “The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival.”

The Deaths of Thomas Jefferson & John Adams: These two founding fathers, among our most influential, both died on the same day: July 4, 1826. At that point, national interest in the holiday had not really become mainstream, and many historians point to this coincidental death of two luminaries as influential in cementing the importance of the holiday in the minds of Americans everywhere.

Why Do We Celebrate 4th of July With Fireworks?: Fireworks were set off at the very first independence day celebration in Philadelphia, on July 4, 1778. The tradition took off nationally from there, but really became a standard component of the celebration after the war of 1812.

The U.S. Flag Code: 4th of July is the annual high point for the populace ignoring one of our least-enforced codes: Public Law 94-344, which bans the wearing of the American Flag as “apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free." Fortunately for those of us who love wearing our flag print shirts on the 4th, this is technically a code rather than a law, and therefore not punishable.

We hope these historical insights have deepened your appreciation for the holiday—and that you have a fantastic 4th of July!

____________________________________________________________________________

So tell us: What’s is your favorite 4th of July tradition that you celebrate– or that the country celebrates?

Thank you,

The MAP Team

MAP Strategic Wealth Advisors | A Member of Advisory Services Network, LLC
10345 W. Olympic Blvd, Suite 110
Los Angeles, CA 90064
OFFICE: 310.601.4095
FAX: 310.388.5484
WEB: www.mapstrategic.com

This email contains links to articles or other information that may be on a third-party website. Advisory Services Network, LLC is not responsible for and does not control, adopt, or endorse any content contained on any third-party website.