Happy 4th of July

It's 4th of July — the day, on which we celebrate American independence, and reflect upon the struggles and sacrifices made by others so that we can enjoy our freedoms today. It is also a good time to remember that the fight for freedom is always ongoing and is never limited to a single country.

Some Interesting Facts on 4th of July:

• Fireworks sales by wholesalers totaled $508.1 million and sales by retailers totaled $369.4. (Census, 2012)
• The United States imported $4.4 million in American flags, with $4.3 million in flags from China. (Census, 2016)
• The Fourth of July is the most popular holiday for grilling. On Independence Day, 76% of grill owners cook barbecue. Memorial Day and Labor Day are the second and third most popular grilling holidays. (Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, 2015)
• Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest: The winner eats the most hot dogs and buns within 10 minutes to win prize money and the Mustard Belt.
• Joey Chestnut of San Jose, California, has won the title eight times (2007-2014). He also holds the world record for eating 69 hot dogs.
• 1916 – The Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest is held at the original Nathan’s Famous at Coney Island.
• 2011 – For the first time, men and women compete separately.
• 2015 – Matt Stonie wins the men’s title by eating 62 hot dogs. Miki Sudo wins the women’s title by eating 38 hot dogs.