Happy Fourth of July to You and Uncle Sam — Dave’s Diary

Sure, most of us will get the day off work tomorrow as the nations celebrates its independence but do we know the real details behind the 4^th of July.  Try these tidbits on for size and have a safe and Happy Fourth of July!

Down Time- the Fourth of July became an unpaid holiday for federal workers in 1870. In 1938 it became a paid holiday, and in 1941, it was declared a federal holiday.

Name Game- the name of the National Anthem is the “Star Spangled Banner” and it was written by Francis Scott Key set to -believe it or not- an old English drinking song named, “Anacreon in Heaven.”

Who's Who- finally, as we salute the Red, White & Blue and good old Uncle Sam you should know the name Uncle Sam” originated in 1812, when a meat packer by the name of Sam Wilson provided meat to the U. S. Army.

Someone saw the meat shipments that were stamped with U. S. and joked that the initials stood for “Uncle Sam” and the name stuck.