TL;DR Summary: Hettler Insurance Agency will be CLOSED Friday, JULY 3, 2026 in observance of America’s 250th Independence Day. Our office reopens Monday, July 6 at regular hours. Plan ahead for ID cards, payments, and any policy changes — and enjoy a few fun Fourth of July facts on the way out the door.

Quick notice from the Hettler Insurance Agency team

America turns 250 years old this Fourth of July 2026 (Independence Day), and the Hettler Insurance Agency team will be stepping away from our desks to celebrate with our families and our community.

FYI / Pro Tip: If you need an auto ID card, a Certificate of Insurance for a job, a payment processed, or a policy change before the long weekend, please reach out to us by end of business Thursday, July 2. That gives our team time to handle it carefully before the holiday.

IMPORTANT: In a true after-hours claim emergency, always call your carrier’s 24/7 claims line directly — the number is printed on your auto ID card and on your homeowners Declarations Page. Hettler will follow up with you first thing Monday morning, July 6.

Five fun Fourth of July facts

Before the brisket hits the smoker and the fireworks light up the West Texas sky, here are a few details about Independence Day that even history buffs sometimes miss:

1. July 2, not July 4, was the actual vote. The Continental Congress voted for independence on July 2, 1776. John Adams was so sure that date would be celebrated forever that he wrote to his wife Abigail predicting fireworks and parades — on the wrong day. The Declaration of Independence was formally adopted two days later, on July 4, and that is the date printed at the top of the document.
2. Three of the first five U.S. Presidents died on July 4. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both passed away on July 4, 1826 — exactly 50 years to the day after the Declaration. James Monroe died on July 4, 1831. Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president, was the only president born on July 4.
3. The Liberty Bell does not actually ring on July 4. To preserve the famous crack, the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia is only tapped thirteen times every Independence Day — once for each of the original colonies.
4. Americans eat about 150 million hot dogs on the Fourth. According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, that is enough hot dogs to stretch from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles more than five times. Texas brisket sales spike, too — no surprise to anyone in Lubbock.
5. 2026 marks the 250th — the Semiquincentennial. This year’s celebration is officially known as the America250 Semiquincentennial — a once-in-a-lifetime milestone. The last big round-number celebration, the Bicentennial, was 50 years ago in 1976.

A quick word about celebrating safely

Independence Day is one of the most fun weekends of the year — and one of the most claim-heavy. A few quick reminders from the Hettler team:

• Fireworks and homeowners insurance: Personal fireworks are illegal inside Lubbock Texas city limits, and an accidental fire from illegal fireworks can complicate a homeowners claim. Public displays are always the safer call.
• Boats, RVs, and trailers: If you are pulling something behind your vehicle this weekend, double-check that it is on your policy. Borrowed trailers and ATVs are a common coverage gap.
• Designated driver, designated route: DWI claims spike every Fourth of July weekend. Plan your ride home before the first beer is opened.
• Pet anxiety and fireworks: If your dog bolts during the fireworks and is hit by a car, that is typically not covered by auto insurance. Microchips and a secure backyard are the best protection.

Pro Tip: Save the Hettler main phone — (806) 798-7800 — in your phone before the long weekend. If you have a claim question first thing Monday morning, you will have us one tap away.

From our family to yours

We are grateful to live and work in Lubbock and to serve Texas families and businesses every day. Ron Hettler, CIC (certified insurance counselor) and the entire Hettler Insurance Agency team wish you a safe, happy, and historic 250th Independence Day.

We will see you back at the office Monday, July 6 at regular hours. Until then — wave your flag, hug your people, and enjoy the show.

Get Better. Get Hettler — 806-798-7800 — hettlerinsurance.com