Here are some of the celebratory events that took place during 1976 :
John Warner, later elected to the United States Senate from Virginia, was director of the Federal office coordinating observances of the Bicentennial.
Festivities included elaborate fireworks displays in the skies above major American cities. Those in Washington, D.C. were presided over by President Ford and televised nationally. A large international fleet of tall-masted sailing ships gathered first in New York City on the Fourth of July and then in Boston about one week later. These nautical parades, witnessed by several million observers, were named Operation Sail (Op Sail) and this was the second of five such Op Sail events to date (1964, 1976, 1986, 1992 and 2000). The vessels docked and allowed the general public to board the ships in both cities, while their sailors were entertained on shore at various ethnic celebrations and parties.
Local observances included painting mailboxes and fire hydrants red, white, and blue. A wave of patriotism and nostalgia swept the nation and there was a general feeling that the irate era of the Vietnam War and the Watergate constitutional crisis of 1974 had finally come to an end.Queen Elizabeth II of United Kingdom and her husband, Prince Philip, made a special state visit to the USA to tour the country and attend Bicentennial festivities with President and Mrs. Ford. Their visit aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia included stops in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Virginia, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
The State of New Jersey ran a special "Bicentennial Lottery". The winner was awarded $1,776 a week (before taxes) for 20 years (a total of $1,847,040).
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YouTube Video(s) of the Day: ABC's coverage of the Bicentennial ceremonies on July 4th
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QSL Card of the day: American Dream. Everything about this card makes me laugh. From the crude drawings of the faces, the pose, and the fact that it also says Shag Nasty 36. I hope Kenneth Murphy achieved his American Dream of posing in shorts while ladies grab his biceps in front a car. U.S.A!
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Restaurant postcard of the day:
Bill Stewart's Drive-In Restaurant - Coloma-Watervliet, Michigan.
I love everything about this place. It's just so damned cutesy and I can almost taste the delicious burgers and cold drinks. I live about an hour or so from Watervliet and could find absolutely no evidence of where it is or was. That makes me sadder than a box of wigs.
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The Baker's Dozen:
- I love this 1957 picture of a soldier and his on dog in front near the American flag
- I'll gladly salute the red, white, blue!
- Isn't the Liberty Bell swell??
- Be careful on the 4th! A message brought to by the Sheriff of Mayberry (R.I.P)
- Miriam Mooney, 1917
- I could go for one of these Bomb Pop, jr
- Celebrate our wax forefathers!
- Terrifying Uncle Sam mask.
- A psychedelic Bicentennial cartoon. I can see the colors, man!
- Barbara Eden is a firecracker. Ok, well she's standing next to one. Fine. Be that way.
- Celebrate your nation's independence by blowing up a small part of it.
- Cute little Betsy Ross, 1977
- Vous etes invite au South Dakota!
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1 comment:
The Dallas Cowboys & Pittsburgh Steelers wore a patch with that bicentennial logo on it in Super Bowl X in Jan. 1976.
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