First off, say good-bye to the sun for awhile. It poked through enough on Sunday to get us to the low 50′s but a storm system from the South will invade overnight and bring a steady rain throughout the day on Monday. The late computer model runs claim anywhere from .76″ to 1.83″ of additional rain before it all comes to an end early Tuesday morning. My suspicion is that it will be closer to the latter. No cause for alarm as flooding won’t be a problem…except in extreme localized situations…like your driveway or back yard. That would come about if you haven’t cleared the drains or gutters from leaves. A lot of them have fallen in the last 10 days.
On This Date In History: On this date in 1783, the last British troops left the city of New York. Remember, the battle of Yorktown that sealed the Colonial victory was settled in 1781 but it took a couple of years for the treaty to be signed in Paris. And it took time in those days to move troops and supplies back across the Atlantic. About 3 months prior to the final evacuation of New York, the treaty was signed but the final redcoats hanging around New York didn’t leave until Nov. 25, 1783. Tradition says that the departing forces left the Union Jack hoisted up a flag pole…nailed to the top with the pole greased. A young colonist though managed to scale the slippery pole, yank down the British flag and replace it with the Colonial flag in time for the departing British on the ships to be able to see it, much to their chagrin.
I was on Long Island this summer and an old timer told me the story and said that it was known as Patriot Day in New York for years until recently. However, I find nothing in a brief search to support that. Patriot Day in Boston has been held on April 19 in honor of Lexington and Concord and most recently, President Bush designated September 11 as Patriot Day.
