Fourth of July was nearly 'second'

The happy and joyous Fourth of July holiday might have been celebrated two days earlier, on July 2, if John Adams had his way.

The Second Continental Congress actually declared independence from Great Britain on July 2; the Congress adopted the formal Declaration of Independence document two days later.

According to a letter Adams wrote his wife, Abigail, on July 3, 1776, "The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha in The History of America.

"It will be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parades, with Shews (sic.), Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other, from this time forward forever more."

Because no holiday can be officially designated by our Federal Government, each state and municipality is free to name its own. Most, however, follow the guidelines set by the national government when it named an official day off for all government employees, declaring July 4 as an official holiday.

Massachusetts was the first state to recognize this day of independence, naming July 4 in 1783 as its day of celebration.

Boston was the first municipality to follow suit.