What Caught My Eye Today

In honor of the Fourth of July holiday, I offer up this little quiz courtesy of Discovery.com (Answers appear after the last question). I personally got 8 out of 10. Enjoy the holiday.

The Fourth of July has been a legal holiday since the American Revolution.
a) True
b) False

Traditionally, the American flag is folded 13 times because each fold bears a special meaning.
a) True
b) False

Benjamin Franklin proposed the turkey as the national bird of the United States.
a) True
b) False

All 56 members of the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
a) True
b) False

Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on the Fourth of July.
a) True
b) False

The Liberty Bell cracked when it was rung to celebrate American independence on July 4, 1776.
a) True
b) False

The preferred method for disposing of a torn, damaged, or soiled U.S. flag is to burn it.
a) True
b) False

The state flag of Texas is the only one that is allowed to fly at the same height as the U.S. flag.
a) True
b) False

John Hancock purposely signed his name in large script on the Declaration of Independence to show his defiance of the British.
a) True
b) False

An American flag should be burned if it has touched the ground.
a) True
b) False

ANSWERS

The Fourth of July has been a legal holiday since the American Revolution.
False - The U.S. Congress made July 4 an unpaid holiday for federal employees in 1870. Congress didn't declare it a legal federal holiday until 1941.

Traditionally, the American flag is folded 13 times because each fold bears a special meaning.
False - Flag etiquette requires that before a flag is stored or formally presented, it must be folded into a triangular shape with only the white stars on the blue background showing. This ceremonial process requires a series of 13 folds to achieve, but there is no official meaning associated with that number.

Benjamin Franklin proposed the turkey as the national bird of the United States.
True - When the newly independent United States was choosing a national symbol, the country was still at war with England and the bald eagle was deemed appropriately fierce and intimidating. However, Ben Franklin thought the bald eagle was "a bird of bad moral character," whereas the wild turkey, while "a little vain and silly," was still a "bird of courage" that "would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British guards who should presume to invade his farmyard with a red coat on."

All 56 members of the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
False - The Declaration of Independence was adopted by 12 of 13 colonies (New York did not vote) on July 4, 1776, but it was not actually signed by all of the delegates until August 2, 1776.

Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on the Fourth of July.
True - On July 4, 1826--50 years to the day after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence--John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died within hours of each other.

The Liberty Bell cracked when it was rung to celebrate American independence on July 4, 1776.
False - According to the Liberty Bell Museum, the crack developed sometime between 1817 and 1846. However, it is generally agreed that when the bell was rung in celebration of Washington's birthday in 1846, the crack expanded to the point that the bell should no longer be rung

The preferred method for disposing of a torn, damaged, or soiled U.S. flag is to burn it.
True - According to Title 4 of the U.S. Code, "The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning."

The state flag of Texas is the only one that is allowed to fly at the same height as the U.S. flag.
False - Actually, U.S. flag code states that any state flag may be flown at the same height as the U.S. flag as long as it is to the left of the U.S. flag. Contrary to rumors circulating on the Internet, no special exceptions are made for the state of Texas.

John Hancock purposely signed his name in large script on the Declaration of Independence to show his defiance of the British.
False - While it's true that there was a price on his head back in England, and that by signing the Declaration, Hancock was sealing his fate as a traitor against the British crown, these circumstances did not affect the way he signed his name. In addition to naturally having a rather large and flamboyant signature, Hancock was the first person to sign the document, so he had plenty of space.

An American flag should be burned if it has touched the ground.
False - U.S. flag code does state "the flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise." If a flag does touch the ground, the proper course of action is simply to lift the flag up, and if it's dirty, clean it. It should only be burned if it is damaged or soiled beyond repair.