What were they doing 249 years ago?

From the Pennsylvania Evening Post, July 5, 1777: "Yesterday the 4th of July, being the anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America, was celebrated in this city with demonstrations of joy and festivity. About noon all the armed ships and gallies in the river were drawn up before the city, dressed in the gayest manner, with the colors of the United States and streamers displayed. At one o’clock, the yards being properly manned, they began the celebration of the day by a discharge of thirteen cannon from each of the ships, and one from each of the thirteen gallies, in honor of the thriteen United States. The evening was closed with the ringing of bells, and at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks )which began and concluded with thirteen rockets on the Commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated.”

So it began on the first anniversary. Can we do any less today?

(A tip of the virtual hat to Michael McKendry)