4th Facts from Dear Abby

[Guest guest]

DEAR READERS: Today marks the 228th year since the Declaration of Independence

was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

The resolution for the Declaration was introduced June 7, 1776, by Henry

Lee.

Do you know who seconded the motion? -- who would later become our

second U.S. president.

Any idea how many states he was president of? (I confess, I had to call the

public library to find out.) There were only 16 when took office.

Do you know who wrote our Declaration of Independence? A committee of five.

Jefferson is credited with writing most of it, assisted by ,

lin, R. Livingston and Roger Sherman.

And was it enthusiastically adopted? Heck, no! The Congress " suggested " a number

of changes -- and you can imagine how poor Jefferson felt about that. (About the

same as any author who has to report to an editor.) Do you care to know how many

changes were made by the " tweakers " ? Eighty-six. (It makes one wonder if that's

where the term " eighty-sixed " -- slang for someone or something ejected or

rejected -- originated.)

The Lee- Resolution of Independence was adopted on July 2, 1776. The

Declaration, which gives the details of the resolution, was adopted on the

evening of July 4.

So why don't we celebrate on July 2? Beats me -- Happy Fourth of July one and

all!

Readers, as you and I celebrate our freedom, won and secured by members of our

military over the years, let's remember our troops in Iraq and around the world

who risk their safety every day on our behalf. Send messages of appreciation and

support via www.OperationDearAbby.net. Trust me, they will be received with

gratitude.