WASHINGTON DC, July 4 (INS): The US celebrated the 250th anniversary of the
American Declaration of Independence, the Semiquincentennial, across the country
on Saturday, July 4, with massive fireworks displays, community parades, concerts,
flypasts, matches and barbecues.
The main Fourth of July function was the Federal "Salute to America 250" event
on the National Mall in Washington DC. It was scheduled to feature massive military
flyovers, the Great American State Fair and a highly anticipated keynote address
by President Donald Trump, followed by fireworks.
However, the main event which was to be held at 7 pm local time had to be
put off as severe thunderstorms, heavy winds and dangerous lightning rolled
into Washington. Tens of thousands of attendees were evacuated and the Great
American State Fair held at the very same venue were also shut. The function
started when the weather settled at around 10 pm. The gates were reopened and
the crowds flooded back in. President Trump ultimately delivered his delayed
keynote address around 11:00 pm and later the fireworks were kicked off.
A massive "Sail for 250" parade in New York Harbour was also marred by a series
of fires on New York City's iconic Brooklyn Bridge during Macy’s Fireworks annual
Independence Day display.
Localized events, such as the Let Freedom Sing! music festival in Nashville
and various municipal gatherings, were held in cities across the country. Despite
extreme heatwaves and power grid emergencies across the Eastern Seaboard, communities
hosted festivities both in-person and through broadcast specials.
Lighter on the plate during the day were World Cup matches, flypasts and the
nation's annual hot-dog eating contest. '
'Sail for 250' parade
Speaking at a naval parade in New York City, Vice President JD Vance said,
"“What I’d ask you to do, my fellow Americans, on our 250th birthday, is to
reject the two-dimensional view of your fellow citizens and reject the two-dimensional
view of your country.”
“Reject that America is a place for zero-sum thinking because it is not. Our
history is one of people carving a great civilisation out of the wilderness.
Reject the view of your nation that sees only its sins but not its grace and
its greatness," he said.
Washington event delayed by thunderstorm
The storm delayed the schedule. By 10 pm, the weather cleared, gates were reopened,
and the crowds flooded back in. President Trump ultimately delivered his speech
around 11:00 pm, which was followed by the massive scheduled fireworks display.
In his speech, Trump made several references to American history and invited
war heroes to the stage.
When the Secret Service ordered the evacuation due to lightning striking within
three km, a stubborn crowd actually refused to leave at first, chanting "U-S-A!"
and singing the national anthem right in front of the stage before finally being
cleared out.
Checkpoints were shut down, and tens of thousands of attendees had to flee
the grounds to seek shelter inside nearby Federal buildings, subway stations
and Smithsonian museums.
The shops at the Great American State Fair held at the very same venue were
shut, especially as thousands rushed in looking for cover from the storm and
rain.
The Fair was on a massive stretch of the National Mall, specifically running
between 4th Street and 14th Street (right between the US Capitol and the Washington
Monument). Because it shared the same grounds, it was completely intertwined
with the main function.
Once the storm passed later in the evening, the fairgrounds reopened alongside
the main event, allowing people to return to the Mall to experience the exhibits.
The fair transformed the National Mall into a massive exposition featuring
custom pavilions for all 50 States and US territories, a 110-foot Ferris wheel,
agricultural showcases and a "Rodeo 250" exhibition.
The celebrations concluded with a massive midnight fireworks display. It lit
up Washington DC in a 40-minute show breaking a Guinness World Record for the
largest display in history.
Brooklyn Bridge on fire
NEW YORK: The Semiquincentennial celebrations were also marred by multiple
fires breaking out on New York City's iconic Brooklyn Bridge during the annual
Macy’s Fireworks Spectacular. shortly before 10:00 pm ET as millions watched
the skies illuminate over the East River.
As pyrotechnics launched from the historic bridge, temporary launch platforms
and sections of the structure suddenly caught fire. Viral social media footage
captured heavy black smoke and orange flames erupting from at least three different
spots on the bridge's span, contrasting sharply against the exploding fireworks
overhead.
The Fire Department of New York (FDNY) dispatched two fire engines to the bridge,
which had already been closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic as a safety
precaution. No injuries were reported, nor any major structural damage to the
bridge.
The bridge fire was just one of several disruptions on a day challenged by
extreme weather. Macy’s organizers had to push the New York display to an earlier
slot.
Meanwhile, dangerous heat domes soaring past 38°C deg (100°F) left 156 million
Americans under heat alerts, resulting in dozens of heat-related hospitalizations.
The wild weather forced a wave of modifications, delays and cancellations across
the Northeast.
Holiday events in Hartford, Connecticut, as well as Harrisburg and Wilkes-Barre,
Pennsylvania were affected. At major celebrations in Boston and Philadelphia,
thousands were ordered to seek temporary shelter before shows could safely resume.
Historically, the signing of the Declaration of Independence had ended British
rule in the 13 original colonies in 1776 amd and the day is celebrated as Fourth
of July.
Meanwhile, Trump and his Republican Party are seeking to retain their control
of the Congress in coming November’s midterm elections. .
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