In the early 70's, American businessman Charlie Kirkwood and his wife, Ginny, began holding annual celebrations at what was then the Polo Club on Wireless Road. Over the years, these parties grew in popularity. When the Kirkwood's returned to the United States, the annual celebrations ceased, but after a brief interval, the American Chamber of Commerce stepped in to continue the tradition. In 1997, the event was not held, and for two years, there was no public celebration of the American Independence Day in Bangkok. In 1999, a small group of concerned Americans, led by Alex Mavro, met to restore the celebration. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) provided immediate support and the Joint U.S. - Thai Military Assistance Group (JUSTMAG) and the American Women's Club (AWC) responded similarly. The American Embassy, and in 2000, the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) joined the coalition. In 2007, the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) once again took the lead of this important event in the Expat community.

ARTICLES & FUN FACTS ABOUT INDEPENDENCE DAY

The following from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Information Programs unless otherwise noted.

• U.S. Independence Day a Civic and Social Event
• Fourth of July Music Reflects U.S. History, Diversity
• Revolution
• An American Fourth of July in Pictures
• The Declaration of Independence, The National Archives
• The Declaration of Independence: A History, The National Archives
• Patriotic Melodies, The Library of Congress
• Fun Facts about July 4th, The Census Bureau
• The Declaration of Independence Kids' Quiz, The White House Kids

ONLINE READING

• USA History in Brief

  The publication summarizes in a few thousand words the history of how the United States was founded and the forces and events that shaped the dynamic and varied country that it has become today.

• Outline of U.S. History

  A chronological look at how the United States took shape -- from its origins as an obscure set of colonies on the Atlantic coast a little more than 200 years ago into what one political analyst today calls "the first universal nation."