Americans are marking Independence Day with parades, fireworks and, for some, a renewed sense of pride in their 242-year-old nation. For others, a sense of a United States divided weighs heavy on its quintessential holiday.
From New York to New Mexico, July Fourth events will celebrate what Americans have in common. Festivities are as elaborate as Macy鈥檚 July Fourth fireworks show, as gulp-worthy as Nathan鈥檚 Famous hot dog eating contest and as easygoing as backyard barbecues. But in a country roiled with debate over what it means to be an American, there are even competing televised Independence Day events in the nation鈥檚 capital.
The country鈥檚 longest-running live national July Fourth TV tradition 鈥� PBS鈥� broadcast of music and fireworks from the U.S. Capitol鈥檚 West Lawn 鈥� is facing new counterprogramming from the White House, which is hosting its own concert and view of the National Park Service鈥檚 fireworks show. Both shows feature different 鈥淎merican Idol鈥� alums.
First lady Melania Trump said in a statement that the White House show would allow Americans to 鈥渢une in from their homes and be part of the festivities.鈥� PBS declined to comment.
In New York, the Macy鈥檚 fireworks show over the East River promises 25 minutes of sparkle and 鈥渁hhhh,鈥� plus the West Point Band and entertainers including Kelly Clarkson, Ricky Martin and Keith Urban on NBC鈥檚 broadcast. Earlier, competitive-eating titans will face off at Nathan鈥檚 Famous July Fourth hot dog eating contest on Coney Island, televised by ESPN.
Meanwhile, some communities in the American West have cancelled their planned July Fourth fireworks because of high wildfire danger, and some others are doing drone light displays instead of pyrotechnics. But fireworks shows will go ahead in such places as Denver and Colorado Springs.
In Boston, the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular features singer-songwriter Rachel Platten, the Indigo Girls, Rhiannon Giddens and Broadway legend Rita Moreno. It鈥檚 televised on local station WHDH-TV and streamed on several sites.
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In another July Fourth tradition, new U.S. citizens will be sworn in at locales around the country.
They鈥檒l pledge allegiance to a country where some people lament that the ability to debate respectfully the toughest issues of the day seems hopelessly lost. For Brad Messier, a chef in Portland, Maine, the holiday 鈥渟eems to illustrate the glaring divides that we have.鈥�
鈥淗ow much does going and seeing fireworks really bring people together?鈥� he asks.
But in rural Shelby County, Alabama, retired truck driver Floyd Champion views these as the best of times in America.
鈥淚 love the holiday because it鈥檚 our independence,鈥� he said.
Tomorrow, families across our Nation will gather to celebrate the Fourth of July. As we do, we will think of the men & women serving overseas at this very moment, far away from their families, protecting America - & we will thank GOD for blessing us with these incredible HEROES!
鈥� Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
The Associated Press
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