Have a great fourth of July. On this day in history:
2007 - BBC journalist Alan Johnston is released by the Army Of Islam from the Gaza Strip, where he was held captive for 114 days.
2004 - The building of the Freedom Tower on the site of the World Trade Center is set to begin with the symbolic breaking of ground. Construction has not yet begun.
1992 - Sir-Mix-A-Lot's "Baby Get Back" hits #1 on the Billboard singles charts.
1987 - In France, former Gestapo chief Klaus Barbie (aka the "Butcher of Lyon") is convicted of crimes against humanity and is sentenced to life imprisonment.
1970 - Casey Kasem's "American Top 40" debuts.
1960 - The 50-star flag of the United States debuts. Yay Hawaii!
1959 - The 49-star flag of the United States debuts. Yay Alaska!
1954 - "The miracle of Bern", Germany wins the FIFA World Cup in Switzerland against Hungary.
1950 - First broadcast by Radio Free Europe.
1939 - Lou Gehrig, recently diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, tells a crowd at Yankee Stadium that he considered himself "The luckiest man on the face of the earth" as he announces his retirement from major league baseball.
1900 - Louis Armstrong ("What a Wonderful World") is born.
1865 - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is published.
1855 - In Brooklyn, New York, the first edition of Walt Whitman's book of poems titled Leaves of Grass is published.
1827 - Slavery is abolished in New York State.
1776 - The Continental Congress approves a Declaration of Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.