The US’ most extravagant display of July 4 fireworks on Monday was a celebration that turned sober briefly to commemorate the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Tens of thousands of people from all over the world streamed to Manhattan’s West Side to see the pyrotechnics show over the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey, featuring more than 40,000 shells exploding in choreographed, multicolored progression.
“It’s beautiful,” said Rosa Riveras, a 57-year-old health educator from Manhattan, as bursts of light filled the sky. “It’s amazing. I’m loving it.”
NBC television ran an exclusive broadcast from a pier along the river, with Nick Lachey of the show The Sing-Off hosting. Viewers got pre-recorded performances by Beyonce, filmed in front of the Statue of Liberty, and country music star Brad Paisley. Then the fireworks lit up the sky, tightly choreographed to a half-hour soundtrack from Katy Perry, LeAnn Rimes, Jennifer Hudson and other artists.
Beth Cochran of Scottsdale, Arizona, was with two childhood friends from Fishkill, New York. The group of three periodically broke into renditions of God Bless America and other patriotic songs.
“We do not take friendship or freedom for granted,” said Cochran, wearing a US flag tank top. “I’m proud to be an American.”
John Woods, a 52-year-old information technology consultant from Wimbledon, England, said he appreciated the diversity of the crowd, which included many immigrants and tourists from around the country and abroad.
“I think it’s just a celebration of being an American,” he said.
The show, sponsored by Macy’s department store, paid tribute to the 125th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty’s debut in New York Harbor. Fireworks blasted off from six barges along the river to heights of 300m.
As Amazing Grace was sung, bursts of golden fireworks lit up the sky to pay tribute to victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Big cheers broke out in the crowd during the finale.
All across the country, Americans marked the 235th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with parades, fireworks, barbecues — plus presidential campaigning, a White House birthday and competitive eating.
Thousands showed up near the Washington Monument for the annual fireworks show on the National Mall, while others threw on Hawaiian shirts and shorts to ski the still-snowy slopes at resorts from California to Colorado.
Earlier in the day on New York’s Coney Island, the annual Nathan’s Famous July 4 hot dog eating contest brought out the biggest names in competitive eating for a clash that was short in timespan, but high in calories.
Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, of San Jose, California, wolfed down 62 hot dogs and buns during the 10-minute contest, winning his fifth straight title. Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas chowed her way to victory in the first-ever women-only contest, eating 40 hot dogs, one shy of her 2009 total.
At the mountaintop home of Thomas Jefferson in Charlottesville, Virginia, officials continued a nearly five-decade-old tradition of swearing in new US citizens. Seventy-seven people took their oaths during a naturalization ceremony at Monticello.
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