In fact, many a Fourth of July eve has arrived to find me and my husband desperately searching to find a more free form demonstration where we could take our children at the last minute to watch fireworks.

Some people watch them being shot from local beach piers. We've watched them from the grass at Dodger Stadium or other smaller little league tournaments our older son (now 15) has played in. We've watched them at Disneyland. We've even watched them popping randomly at a distance while we drove on the 405 Freeway.

We're aware of some lovely hillside views that overlook the Valley's night sky, but quite often, that meant we wound up parked on the side of the road somewhere watching them through the sunroof. In recent years, we've even taken to the roof of a friend's garage to watch the colorful displays, while the littlest one (now five) could safely stay in the house away from the loud booms and crashes that used to scare him so much. (I'm not sure how he will react this year.)

We've got no specific Fourth of July family tradition... On the other hand maybe that IS our tradition!

For those vexillologists (experts on the history of flags) out there, let me take this opportunity to also share some trivia as well as etiquette on the proper display and handling of "Old Glory."

Even though Betsy Ross  is credited with having sewn the first United States flag, there is no written proof to authenticate the tales that describe how the humble upholsterer became the United States' official seamstress. As the story is told, it was 1777 when George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross visited Betsy in her shop and asked if she could make a flag from a design George Washington pulled from his pocket. No real evidence exists beyond family tales and statements showing the Pennsylvania State Navy Board commissioned her for work in making "ships colors & c." in May 1777. According to Wikipedia,  however, "some historians believe it was Francis Hopkinson and not Betsy Ross who designed the official "first flag" of the United States (13 red and white stripes with 13 stars on a field of blue)."

When America established its independence more than 225 years ago, the original 13 colonies supported a population of about 2.5 million people. As of last year, that number has increased to more than 300 million!

On July 1, 1863, during the American Civil War, Confederate General Robert E. Lee attacked the Union Army in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in an attempt to take over the north. The infamous Battle of Gettysburg raged for three days, with both sides suffering tremendous losses. Though neither side was officially declared the winner, the battle itself has been declared by some to be a turning point in the history of our country.

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan declared the month of July to be "National Ice Cream" Month, with the third sunday designated as "National Ice Cream Day." Keep that in mind knowing you've got another chance to celebrate in just a couple weeks, by diving in with big spoonfuls of some of your favorite ice cream. Maraschino cherries are encouraged.

Another important celebration in July: Americans celebrate our Independence Day on July 4, while Canadians celebrate "Canada Day," on July 1. According to Wikipedia,  the occasion -- frequently referred to as "Canada's birthday," particularly in the popular press -- marks the joining of the British colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada into a federation of four provinces (the Province of Canada being divided, in the process, into Ontario and Quebec) on July 1, 1867.

And let's not forget that July is also known to be National Blueberry Month, National Hot Dog Month, National Wheelchair Beautification Month,  Natoinal Make a Difference to Children Month,  Herbal/Prescription Interaction Awareness Month, Family Reunion Month, and National Grilling Month. If that's not enough celebrating for you, don't forget to honor "Embrace your Geekness Day" on July 13 (my son's birthday, I can't wait to tell him!), and National Rabbit Week from July 15-21. 

Proper Care and Display of the American Flag
Regardless of what day of the year it is, there are special rules regarding the display of our Stars and Stripes:
*    Display the flag only on days that weather permits, and only from sunrise to sunset. If the flag is to be displayed at night, it must be properly illuminated.
*    Never allow the flag to touch the ground. Always raise and lower it by hand, and with proper respect.
*    When flying the flag at half-staff (as a sign of mourning), first raise it to its peak, then lower it to the half-staff position. At the end of the day, raise it back to the top before lowering it to take it down.
*    On Memorial Day, flay the flag at half-staff from sunrise to noon, then at full-staf from noon until sunset.
*    The only time the flag may be flown upside down is in an emergency. According to the United States Flag Code, the flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.
More information on official flag rules and regulations can be found at http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html

by Brandy Schaffels
Editor, AskPatty.com