|
 Possible security threats, wildfires in the West and rainy weather
on the East Coast apparently did little to dampen the spirits of
celebrants decked out in red, white and blue from their headbands to
their shoelaces.
Crowds at Boston's Old State House erupted in applause and cannons
shot out tri-color confetti after the annual July Fourth reading of
the Declaration of Independence.
Later, thousands flocked to the Charles River Esplanade for the
annual Boston Pops concert and fireworks. Krystle O'Brien, 27, wore
an American flag cowboy hat and passed out glowsticks.
"It's a good day for Boston," she said. "There's so much history
here, we can celebrate this freedom."
In Maplewood, New Jersey, Meskie Hyman, 11, exuded patriot pride in
a star-spangled shirt and a hairband with two American flags that
fluttered under cloudy skies. "I love that it's a free country and we have the right to speak. It
lets us see everyone's potential and find our heroes," she said.
The crowd in Washington, D.C. watched a parade of brass bands, law
enforcement motorcycle units, high school drum majorettes, antique
cars and police and military detachments.
 The National Mall, an open area west of the Capitol and site of a
fireworks display expected to draw hundreds of thousands, was soggy
from steady rain that had stopped by the time the parade started.
Kearston Andrews, 26, traveled with her family from near
Gainesville, Florida, unworried about security.
The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation issued an alert this week asking local authorities and
the public to remain vigilant for possible threats following recent
calls for violence by leaders of radical Islamist group Islamic
State.
In New York City, the nation's biggest police force assigned about
7,000 officers and nearly all its counterterrorism personnel to
handle security around Independence Day events.
No incidents were reported as of late Saturday, but tens of
thousands of spectators crowded onto the banks of Manhattan's East
River to watch fireworks shot from barges.
Even after promising an increased presence at weekend events,
Massachusetts State Police maintained a holiday spirit, tweeting
with a colloquial Boston phrase early Saturday "Have a wicked safe
4th of July!"
[to top of second column] |
In a stunning upset on Coney Island, 23-year-old newcomer Matt
Stonie grabbed the famed mustard-colored champion's belt after
gobbling 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes in the annual Nathan's
International Hot Dog Eating Contest.
Stonie, of San Jose, California, ousted long-time champion Joey
"Jaws" Chestnut, who still holds a world record of 69 franks eaten
in 2013. Miki Sudo hung onto the women's title, downing 38 hotdogs
in 10 minutes.
WILDFIRES AND SHARKS
On the U.S. West Coast, which is battling wildfires, communities in
Washington state and Oregon restricted or banned fireworks for fear
of more blazes. Cupertino, California, and Anchorage, Alaska's
largest city, also canceled firework shows.
In downtown Los Angeles, thousands of revelers poured into Grand
Park to enjoy music and food before a fireworks show.
“I’m Mexican, so I’m thankful to be born here, and being able to
celebrate your heritage but mix with the diversity of other cultures
too,” said Erica Moussa.
A celebration in Austin, Texas featured country music legend Willie
Nelson at an all-day picnic replete with music and drinking.
And in Oklahoma, the record to beat at the "Watermelon Seed Spittin'
World Championship" in Pauls Valley, about 60 miles (100 km)
southeast of Oklahoma City, was 66 feet, 11 inches (20.41 meters),
set in 1989 by Jack Dietz of Chicago, organizers said.
(Additional reporting by Jon Herskovitz in Austin, Eric M. Johnson
in Seattle, Jackie Tempera in Boston, Ian Simpson in Washington,
Barbara Goldberg in New York and Tahsin Hyder in Los Angeles;
Editing by Ruth Pitchford, Frances Kerry, W Simon and Chris Michaud)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
