God Bless America! Little Known Facts about Independence Day
This week, Vonda and Lori set the business of flowers aside for a family-friendly Independence Day special. Armed with dueling lists of "fun facts because we're fun," the hosts trade little-known trivia about the 4th of July and the United States — with detours into hot dog confessions, childhood memories of the 1976 Bicentennial, and one legendary book report mix-up. Share this one with the family around the grill.
Declaration of Independence surprises
Start with the big one: George Washington never signed the Declaration of Independence. And most of the founding fathers didn't sign it on July 4th at all — the majority signed on August 2nd, which happens to be Vonda's birthday ("I think that's why they did it," Lori teases. "They waited till Vonda's birthday.").
Thomas Jefferson wasn't the solo author, either. He was one member of a five-person committee appointed by the Continental Congress, alongside Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman. As for the signers themselves: Edward Rutledge was the youngest at 26, Benjamin Franklin the oldest at 70, and the average age was 45. Lori, who taught fifth-grade U.S. history in Texas, points out that these are exactly the kinds of facts kids actually take home and repeat — which is what makes them stick.
Presidents and the 4th of July
The presidential coincidences are almost eerie. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on July 4, 1826 — the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. Five years later, President James Monroe also died on the 4th of July. President Zachary Taylor died in 1850 after eating spoiled fruit following his Fourth of July speech, making Millard Fillmore president. And Calvin Coolidge remains the only president born on the 4th of July.
As for Washington — he may not have signed the Declaration, but he celebrated the holiday his own way: a double ration of rum for his soldiers.
Bells, anthems, and 27 flags
Vonda notes the Liberty Bell no longer rings — it cracked beyond repair in 1846 — but Lori has the addendum: every 4th of July in Philadelphia, the bell is tapped (not rung) 13 times to honor the original 13 colonies.
The Star-Spangled Banner has its own odd history: the tune comes from an English drinking song, and although Francis Scott Key wrote the words, it didn't officially become the national anthem until 1931. The flag has been through 27 different versions, from the original 13 stars and stripes to today's design, finalized when the 50th star was added in 1960 for Hawaii. And yes — Betsy Ross gets her shout-out, which reminds Lori of a family legend: her grade-school sister, offered "Dolley Madison" as a book report subject, replied that she just wasn't really interested in donuts. With a principal for a dad and a teacher for a mom, that story circulated town fast — and never went away.
150 million hot dogs (and one cautionary tale)
Americans consume approximately 150 million hot dogs every 4th of July — enough to stretch from D.C. to L.A. more than five times. Which brings us to Lori's confession: hot dogs are one of her favorite foods, and she eats them exactly once a year, because she can never stop at one and always pays the price. She's also on the hunt for nitrate-free dogs, since her neurologist flagged nitrates as a possible migraine trigger for some chronic sufferers — a genuinely useful tidbit if you're a migraine person yourself.
For the record: Lori takes hers charred, on a toasted bun with cream cheese, plenty of mustard, relish, and maybe jalapenos — never ketchup. Vonda eats hers "naked," no bun, dipped in horseradish mustard.
How far we've come
Lori's final fact puts it all in perspective: in 1776, about 2.5 million people lived in the United States. Today it's more than 314 million. As Vonda says, that's a lot to be grateful for — for our freedom and for all those who gave it to us. The episode closes the way it should: with the girls, now fourteen, singing, and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Key takeaways
- George Washington didn't sign the Declaration of Independence — and most signers didn't sign until August 2nd.
- Jefferson, Adams, and Monroe all died on the 4th of July; Coolidge is the only president born on it.
- The Liberty Bell is tapped 13 times each Independence Day for the original colonies.
- Fun facts are sticky — a teacher's trick worth stealing for your shop's holiday marketing and social posts.
- Celebrate safely, and maybe stop at one hot dog.