With the up coming holiday coming up I thought it might be fun to go back in time and look at what happened on the 4th of July in past years.

In 1959 the 49th star is added to the American flag to represent the new state of Alaska.

On the 4th July 1960 a 50th star is added to the American flag to represent the new state of Hawaii.

In 1966 The New York Transit authority chose the holiday to increase its minimum fares on Subway and busses from 15 cents to 20 cents.

Then in 1969 Atlanta International Pop Festival held at Atlanta International Raceway. It was featuring some of the great names in music at the time including Janis Joplin, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Canned Heat, Joe Cocker, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Led Zeppelin attracts 100,000 even in temperatures nearing 100 degrees. The concert was billed as a great success with peace, harmony and great music .

On the 4th July 1976, 200th birthday Bicentennial celebrations of the United States we celebrated independence from British Rule. And Israeli commandos rescue 100 hostages held by pro-Palestinian hijackers at Entebbe airport in Uganda.

4th July 1984 Richard Petty the king of stock car racing won his 200th career victory at the Firecracker 400 race in Daytona, Florida,

4th July 1997 NASA's Mars Pathfinder becomes the first U.S. spacecraft after 20 years to land on Mars after traveling 120 million miles in seven months .

4th July 1998 forest fires are sweeping across Florida and are now threatening Daytona Beach and nearby Ormond Beach. So far during this emergency over 120,000 were forced to leave their homes.  The wind and lack of rain has fueled hundreds of fires, many believed to have been arson.

4th July 1999 Osama bin Laden who is on the FBI's "10 most wanted list" is now believed to have established his Al-Qaeda terrorist base in Afghanistan. He is wanted by the US on charges of international terrorism in connection with the 1998 bombing of American embassies in Africa and last year's attack on the USS Cole in Yemen. Osama bin Laden has called for a holy war against the United States, saying it was the duty of Muslims to free their land of American occupation. This was 2 years before his involvement in the 9/11 suicide attacks by al-Qaeda members upon the United States.

 4th July 2005 prior to the meeting later this week of the G8 nations President George W Bush has again said the United States will not support a Kyoto-style agreement on legally binding reductions on carbon emissions. Without US commitment it is unlikely carbon emission by other nations will have the impact many hope for.

Even members of his own party, including Senator John McCain has called the president's approach on the issue "disgraceful".

The other area of major discussion will be Common Agricultural Policy by Europe and farm subsidies in the United States which unfairly distort the world market faced by African farmers.

4th July 2006 the shuttle Discovery launched from Florida's Kennedy Space Center and was bound for the International Space Station with seven astronauts aboard. This was the second space shuttle to launch after the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003.

4th July 2006 five Afghan civilians were killed by suspected Taleban militants. The victims were workers at a United States military base in the Kunar province in Eastern Afghanistan. There were also two explosions in Kabul, injuring at least seven people.

4th July 2008 after six decades, the first direct flight that is to become a regular occurrence took place between China and Taiwan. Taiwan and China broke political ties 1949 when the two took on separate governments. The regular flights were expected to boost tourism in both countries.

4th July 2009 North Korea tested seven ballistic missiles over the Sea of Japan, in defiance of UN sanctions that banned any activities involving ballistic missiles in the country. The tests were thought to be a protest against the United States as they took place on the United States Independence Day.

I thought Cruisin back in time for this 4th of July would be fun. I hope everyone and a wonderful and most of all safe holiday. Until next time, "Keep Cruisin."