Happy Fourth of July and a History Lesson

A very happy Independence Day to all of you and your families! I am currently in Madison, Wis., celebrating with my own family – a fairly low-key affair that has included a trip downtown, where we saw evidence of patriotism in front of the Capitol building:

Along with a backyard barbecue and a few of my mother’s flag-based decorations:

Earlier today, I was reading our local newspaper, the Wisconsin State Journal, and came across a section called “Today in History.” In honor of the holiday, here are a few noteworthy 4th of July events through the years, as written by the WSJ. First and most importantly…

On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by delegates to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

On this date:

In 1802, the United States Military Academy officially opened at West Point, N.Y.

In 1831, the fifth president of the United States, James Monroe, died in New York City at age 73.

In 1863, the Civil War siege of Vicksburg, Miss., ended as a Confederate garrison surrendered to Union forces.

In 1872, the 30th president of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, was born in Plymouth, Vt.

In 1912, the 48-star American flag, recognizing New Mexico statehood, was adopted.

In 1939, Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees delivered his famous farewell speech in which he called himself “the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”

In 1959, America’s 49-star flag, recognizing Alaskan statehood, was officially unfurled.

In 1960, America’s 50-star flag, recognizing Hawaiian statehood, was officially unfurled.

In 1982, the space shuttle Columbia concluded its fourth and final test flight with a smooth landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

One year ago: Scientists at the European Center for Nuclear Research in Geneva, where the world’s biggest atom smasher is located, cheered the apparent end of a decades-long quest for a new subatomic particle called the Higgs boson, or “God particle.”

It’s an important day in American and world history, and I hope it’s a happy one for you and your loved ones. Enjoy the holiday weekend!