32-467: Michael Dobson may refer to: Michael Dobson (author) (born 1952), American author Michael Dobson (businessman) (born 1952), British businessman, chairman of Schroders Michael Dobson (actor) (born 1966), Canadian voice actor Michael Dobson (footballer) (born 1981), English footballer Michael Dobson (rugby league) (born 1986), Australian rugby league player [REDACTED] Topics referred to by
64-740: A "salute to the union", is fired on Independence Day at noon by any capable military base. New York City has the largest fireworks display in the country sponsored by Macy's , with more than 22 tons of pyrotechnics exploded in 2009. It generally holds displays in the East River. Other major displays are in Seattle on Lake Union ; in San Diego over Mission Bay ; in Boston on the Charles River ; in Philadelphia over
96-423: A picnic or barbecue; many take advantage of the day off and, in some years, a long weekend to gather with family members or friends. Parades are often attended in many towns and cities, some being hours-long, with many floats and participants. Parades are often held in the mid-late morning (before get-togethers), with longer spectacles sometimes extending into the early afternoon. Fireworks displays typically occur in
128-774: A real job," explained Dobson, "and I was finally hired as a research assistant in the Aeronautics Department of the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institute ;[ sic ] in Washington, D.C. It was a great first job!" In 1976, Dobson began overseeing the business operations of the Albert Einstein Spacearium at the Smithsonian , and then running a résumé business in 1979. Dobson
160-571: A signatory of the Declaration of Independence, James Monroe , another Founding Father who was elected president, also died on July 4, 1831, making him the third President who died on the anniversary of independence. The only U.S. president to have been born on Independence Day was Calvin Coolidge , who was born on July 4, 1872. Independence Day is a national holiday marked by patriotic displays. Per 5 U.S.C. § 6103 , Independence Day
192-637: A statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by the Committee of Five , which asked Thomas Jefferson to author its first draft. While Jefferson consulted extensively with the other four members of the Committee of Five, he largely wrote the Declaration of Independence in isolation over 17 days between June 11, 1776, and June 28, 1776, from the second floor he was renting in a three-story private home at 700 Market Street in Philadelphia , now known as
224-498: Is a federal holiday, so all non-essential federal institutions (such as the postal service and federal courts ) are closed on that day. While the legal holiday remains on July 4, if that date happens to be on a Saturday or Sunday, then federal government employees will instead take the day off on the adjacent Friday or Monday, respectively. Other non-essential that are non-government related may also be closed that day. Families often celebrate Independence Day by hosting or attending
256-531: Is commonly associated with fireworks , parades , barbecues , carnivals , fairs , picnics , concerts , baseball games , family reunions , political speeches , and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the national day of the United States. During the American Revolution ,
288-601: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Michael Dobson (author) Michael S. Dobson (born September 9, 1952, in Charlotte, North Carolina ) is an American author in the fields of business (particularly office politics and project management ), alternate history novels (relating to World War II ) and role-playing game adventures ( Dungeons & Dragons , Indiana Jones , and Buck Rogers XXVC ). Dobson's family moved from North Carolina to Germany when he
320-403: Is typically one of the busiest United States travel periods of the year, as many people use what is often a three-day holiday weekend for extended vacation trips. The Philippines celebrates July 4 as its Republic Day to commemorate the day in 1946 when it ceased to be a U.S. territory and the United States officially recognized Philippine Independence . July 4 was intentionally chosen by
352-564: The Battlesystem rules; Dobson also co-designed the Partyzone Knave of Hearts game with Debbie. Dobson switched fields yet again to become a seminar leader in 1990, with authorship of several management books, tapes and videos to his credit, including several co-authored with his wife, Deborah Singer Dobson, who works in human resources . The publication of Fox on the Rhine in 2000 marked
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#1732872629591384-459: The COVID-19 pandemic forced cancellations of shows. Some local or regional firework sales are limited or prohibited because of dry weather or other specific concerns. On these occasions the public may be prohibited from purchasing or discharging fireworks, but professional displays (such as those at sports events) may still take place. A salute of one gun for each state in the United States, called
416-705: The Dragonlance series, as well as the Battlesystem fantasy combat supplement, which won the H.G. Wells Award at the 1986 Origins Game Fair . In 1985, Dobson was asked to join the Marketing Department and ended up as Marketing Manager. In March 1986, Dobson became the Director of Games Development. As a game designer, his credits included the four-module AD&D-game Bloodstone Pass series with Douglas Niles , and X10, Red Arrow, Black Shield , both of which involved
448-775: The Philadelphia Museum of Art ; in San Francisco over the San Francisco Bay ; and on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. During the annual Windsor–Detroit International Freedom Festival , Detroit, Michigan , hosts one of the largest fireworks displays in North America, over the Detroit River , to celebrate Independence Day in conjunction with Windsor, Ontario 's celebration of Canada Day . The first week of July
480-700: The United States of America . The Founding Father delegates of the Second Continental Congress declared that the Thirteen Colonies were no longer subject (and subordinate) to the monarch of Britain , King George III , and were now united, free, and independent states. The Congress voted to approve independence by passing the Lee Resolution on July 2 and adopted the Declaration of Independence two days later, on July 4. Independence Day
512-459: The War of 1812 . Firework shows are held in many states, and many fireworks are sold for personal use or as an alternative to a public show. Safety concerns have led some states to ban fireworks or limit the sizes and types allowed. In addition, local and regional conditions may dictate whether the sale or use of fireworks in an area will be allowed; for example, the global supply chain crisis following
544-467: The Declaration House, and within walking distance of Independence Hall . Congress debated and revised the wording of the Declaration, removing Jefferson's vigorous denunciation of King George III for importing the slave trade , finally approving it two days later on July 4. A day earlier, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail : The second day of July 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in
576-409: The Declaration was signed nearly a month after its adoption, on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4 as is commonly believed. By remarkable coincidence, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, the only two signatories of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as presidents of the United States , both died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. Although not
608-531: The Deep South, he moved back to Charlotte for college. During college, he was employed as a faculty member teaching freshman composition and science fiction. Dobson graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a bachelors degree with an English/writing major. Dobson worked at three jobs after college: a typist, substitute teacher, and a planetarium operator on weekends. "I worked real hard to get
640-481: The English city of Gloucester , its cathedral rang bells in 2019 and 2020 for the anthem " The Star-Spangled Banner " every July 4 for its links to the anthem , commemorating its status as the birthplace of John Stafford Smith , who composed the tune on which the anthem is based. (federal) = federal holidays, (abbreviation) = state/territorial holidays, (religious) = religious holidays, (cultural) = holiday related to
672-618: The Gem of the Ocean "; " God Bless America "; " America the Beautiful "; " My Country, 'Tis of Thee "; " This Land Is Your Land "; " Stars and Stripes Forever "; " Yankee Doodle "; " God Bless the U.S.A. " and " Dixie " (in southern states); " Lift Every Voice and Sing "; and occasionally (but has nominally fallen out of favor), " Hail Columbia ". Some of the lyrics recall images of the Revolutionary War or
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#1732872629591704-677: The United States because it corresponds to its Independence Day, and this day was observed in the Philippines as Independence Day until 1962. In 1964, the name of the July 4 holiday was changed to Republic Day. Rebild National Park in Denmark is said to hold the largest July 4 celebrations outside of the United States. While not an Independence Day celebration by any means, the city of Trois-Rivières , Quebec , Canada celebrates its founding every July 4, having been founded on July 4, 1634. Trois-Rivières
736-616: The beginnings of Dobson's forays into alternate history. In his RPG and alternate history books, he has frequently collaborated with Douglas Niles . Independence Day (United States) Independence Day , known colloquially as the Fourth of July , is a federal holiday in the United States which commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing
768-557: The celebration. The highest ever were in Salem, Massachusetts , with pyramids composed of as many as forty tiers of barrels. These made some of the tallest bonfires ever recorded. The custom flourished in the 19th and 20th centuries and is still practiced in some New England and northeastern towns. Independence Day fireworks are often accompanied by patriotic songs, such as " The Star-Spangled Banner " (the American national anthem ); " Columbia,
800-738: The evening, at such places as parks, harbors, off of boats, sporting venues, fairgrounds, public shorelines, or town squares. Decorations (e.g., streamers, balloons, and clothing) are generally colored red, white, and blue, the colors of the American flag , and many homes and businesses will decorate their properties with miniature American flags. The night before the Fourth was once the focal point of celebrations, marked by raucous gatherings, often incorporating bonfires as their highlight. In New England , towns competed to build towering pyramids, assembled from barrels and casks. They were lit at nightfall to usher in
832-450: The history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more. Adams's prediction
864-473: The legal separation of the thirteen colonies from Great Britain in 1776 actually occurred on July 2, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States independent from Great Britain's rule. After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence ,
896-407: The same term This disambiguation page lists articles about people with the same name. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Dobson&oldid=939215761 " Category : Human name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
928-501: Was a child; his father had spent the latter part of World War II in a POW camp and had grown adjusted to German hospitality. The Dobson family returned to the United States five years later in 1960. Dobson later lived in Decatur, Alabama , but he felt that he did not fit in well in the South . "I still can't play a Civil War game to this day." Having trouble in school, and having had enough of
960-851: Was also the site of the final battle of the American Revolutionary War that was fought on Quebec soil in June 1776, the Battle of Trois-Rivières , which was also a part of the Continental Army's failed American Invasion of Quebec . Following a defeat at the hands of the British, the Continental Army retreated to Fort Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu , Quebec, and then to Fort Ticonderoga in Ticonderoga , New York, before permanently ceasing their invasion of Quebec in July 1776. In
992-495: Was hired as an editor at TSR, Inc. in December 1983, and moved to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin with his fiancée Debbie Singer, whom he had met in the resume business; they married on the Fourth of July in 1984. "The first three projects I worked on at TSR never appeared in print," recalls Dobson. "I got a special satisfaction out of editing wargames. They were tough, but I loved the preciseness and detail." The projects he edited included
Michael Dobson - Misplaced Pages Continue
1024-575: Was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress. Historians have long disputed whether members of Congress signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, even though Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin all later wrote that they had signed it on that day. Most historians have concluded that
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