WASHINGTON: Fireworks lit up the skies across the United States, as Americans commemorated the nation's 233rd anniversary with barbecues, live music and other festivities.In Washington, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle invited some 1,200 military families for evening Independence Day celebrations at the White House.The All-American event boasted games like volleyball and mini-basketball, an American flag made out of balloons and other festive decorations, but also a traditional July 4 menu, complete with hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, corn on the cob, ice cream, sodas and beer.The nation's capital received hundreds of thousands of visitors for an annual concert and fireworks show that began with a parade down the broad Constitution Avenue.In the country's biggest fireworks display, over 22 tons of pyrotechnics exploded over the Hudson River in New York, launched after dark from six barges spread across a distance of 25 city blocks.It was the first time since the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington that the show takes place on the Hudson River and not the East River.And in another first since the attacks, the Statue of Liberty's crown reopened to the public in New York.
WASHINGTON: Fireworks lit up the skies across the United States, as Americans commemorated the nation's 233rd anniversary with barbecues, live music and other festivities.In Washington, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle invited some 1,200 military families for evening Independence Day celebrations at the White House.The All-American event boasted games like volleyball and mini-basketball, an American flag made out of balloons and other festive decorations, but also a traditional July 4 menu, complete with hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, corn on the cob, ice cream, sodas and beer.The nation's capital received hundreds of thousands of visitors for an annual concert and fireworks show that began with a parade down the broad Constitution Avenue.In the country's biggest fireworks display, over 22 tons of pyrotechnics exploded over the Hudson River in New York, launched after dark from six barges spread across a distance of 25 city blocks.It was the first time since the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington that the show takes place on the Hudson River and not the East River.And in another first since the attacks, the Statue of Liberty's crown reopened to the public in New York.
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