30 June 24

Tomorrow (1 July) is a great day for national independence celebrations in Canada, Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia, and Hong Kong. Coming up later this week are United States (2 or 4), Belarus (3) and Algeria (5). Others in July: South Sudan (9), Mongolia (11), France (14), Belgium (21), Egypt (23) and Morocco (30). My tie with flags of many nations doesn't have all of those represented, but you can clearly see Canada's maple leaf, the United States' stars and stripes, and France's tricolor bars.

Special note about the United States' observance: John Adams expected there would be annual fireworks, etc., on 2 July, marking the date when the Colonial Congress passed the resolution to proclaim independence from the British King. The traditional date of 4 July was assigned to the Declaration of Independence two days later when many of the delegates signed the document.