Glenbrooke News

by George Beitzel

Of all of our national holidays Independence Day is the most American. Commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776.  Thomas Jefferson was the principal author along with four colleagues. The Declaration was signed over a month but we commemorate the 4 th of July as our national birthday holiday which was adopted by the U.S. Congress in 1870.

The Declaration was signed by 56 men representing the 13 Colonies. The group included 2 future Presidents, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams as well as a distant relative of Joan’s, Caesar Rodney of Delaware.

Others we may recall were Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and Samuel Adams. While Adams was a brewer at one time, the current Boston Beer Companies Samuel Adams Boston Lager is not related to the original Adams Brewery. But  a cold one tastes great on a hot day.

Fireworks have long been associated with the Fourth of July. In Elk Grove, the Salute to the Red, White and Blue fireworks display will be held in the Elk Grove Regional Park .  Food and music are available from 6 pm with fireworks beginning at 9:30 pm.  Admission is free but parking is $10.00 per vehicle. Or you can drive down Whitelock Parkway to West Stockton Blvd. There are several pull offs on the road where parking is free -if you get there early and are not sited for blocking the road.

Oh. Don't forget to fly your flag on this 235th Independence Day. And pass a slice of apple pie this way please.