Celebrating our Independence

Fun facts about America

We all know that Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492, that Betsy Ross probably sewed the first American Flag and that the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. But how well do we really know our country?

For example, did you know that Virginia is called the Mother of Presidents because eight U.S. Presidents were born there?

Or that any time the United States used mules in wartime, it never lost a war?

To help celebrate the month of July, here are some more fascinating facts about America.

From 1777 until 1818 every time a new state joined the Union, a new star AND stripe was added to the flag. Once the flag became unwieldy, a new policy was adapted. The flag would have 13 stripes and a blue canton where a star would be added for each state. When a state joined, the star was added on the July 4th following the admission.

The District of Columbia is divided into four quadrants. The U.S. Capital Building is the place where the four sections meet.

In 1925, Nellie Tayloe Ross was elected governor of Wyoming and became the first female governor in the United States.

When he was inaugurated, President George Washington only had one tooth left. Because of that he wore dentures made of human, cow or hippopotamus teeth, ivory and lead. Maybe that’s why he had his six white horses’ teeth brushed every morning!

Former president Thomas Jefferson also was an inventor. He invented the swivel chair, a pedometer, a machine to make fiber from hemp, a letter-copying machine and the lazy susan.

Only the President or state governors can order the flag flown at half mast.

Everyone here at Allgood Pest Solutions wishes everyone a happy and safe Independance Day.