Happy Birthday- U.S.A.

Weather permitting, Westport will celebrate the 232nd anniversary of the adoption of the unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, tomorrow (July 3, 2008), with a fireworks display, at Compo Beach.

The beach will close at 4 P.M. and re-open at 5, for ticket holders.  Tickets may be purchased for $25/car, at the Longshore Recreation Department office or the Westport Police Station.  The fireworks will be set off at approximatley 9:15 P.M., from a barge anchored off the beach.  The show will, again, be produced by the Grucci family, the renowned firework artists, from Long Island.  The raindate is Monday, July 7.

Although Congress approved the adoption and wording of the Declaration of Independence, on July 4th, the actually signing took place a month later.  John Hancock's name, as President of Congress, was printed on the first published version, of the document.  His widely recognized "artistic" signature was entered, on August 2, along with the signatures of the other 55 delegates, to the parchment that is currently on display, at the National Archives, in Washington, D.C.