QUANTICO MARINE CORPS BASE, Va. -- On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country.
This year, Marine Corps Base Quantico will start its basewide Fourth of July celebration at 3 p.m. at Lejeune Field. Fireworks commence at 9:15 p.m. Additional entertainment includes a disk jockey and live band as well as carnival rides. Food and drinks will be sold onsite, too.
July 4 schedule
• 3-8:30 p.m. Alcohol sales
• 3-9 p.m. Food concessions
• 3-10 p.m. Disc jockey
• 4-8 p.m. Live band, carnival rides
• 8:37 p.m. Evening colors
• 9:15-9:30 p.m. Fireworks display
Fun Fourth Facts
In July 1776, there were an estimated 2.5 million people living in the newly independent nation. The nation’s estimated population on this July Fourth is 316.2 million.
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There were 56 signers to the Declaration of Independence. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston comprised the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration. Jefferson, regarded as the strongest and most eloquent writer, wrote most of the document.
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John Hancock, president of the Second Continental Congress, was the first signer. This merchant by trade did so in an entirely blank space making it the largest and most famous signature — hence the term John Hancock, which is still used today as a synonym for signature.
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Benjamin Franklin, then 70, who represented Pennsylvania, was the oldest of the signers. Edward Rutledge, 26, of South Carolina, was the youngest.
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Two future presidents signed: John Adams, second president, and Thomas Jefferson, third president. Both died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of signing the Declaration.
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The United States imported $218.2 million worth of fireworks from China in 2012, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($227.3 million).
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In 2012, the U.S. imported $3.8 million of American flags. The vast majority of this amount ($3.6 million) was for U.S. flags made in China.