- President Barack Obama directed special thanks to the military as he addressed crowds at Bruno Mars concert
- Fireworks lit up the sky on New York's East River, over the National Mall, in Boston
- The celebrations came amid a surge in terror threats from the Islamic State to cities across America
Breathtaking
displays of fireworks lit up the sky across America as President Barack
Obama praised 'the greatest country on earth' to conclude the nation's
239th Independence Day.
The
First Family led celebrations with a Bruno Mars concert on the White
House South Lawn for the military, where the president gave special
thanks service men and women who protect American freedom.
Meanwhile,
hundreds of thousands of people braved tight security along New York
City's East River for Macy's annual fireworks display, as similar events
were staged in cities across the country.
The
celebrations came amid a surge in terror threats from the Islamic
State, with counter terrorism police assigned to all city-held events.
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Glittering: An enormous firework display across the East River lit up the New York sky on Saturday night for Independence Day
Aerial shots captured the magnificent light patterns that towered over Brooklyn and east Manhattan
Happy fourth! Fireworks explode over the National Mall during Fourth of July celebrations in Washington
People watch the annual Fourth of July fireworks on the National Mall in Washington to mark the 239th Independence Day
A reveler holds up a Star Spangled Banner as the fireworks kick off in Miami Beach, Florida
The First Family led celebrations with a Bruno Mars concert, where the president gave special thanks to the U.S. military
He said 'freedom is not free' but is
paid for by all the men and women of the military, including those who
blanketed the South Lawn
Celebrations: President Barack Obama looks on as First lady Michelle Obama greets performer Bruno Mars
Obama and Michelle spoke minutes before the annual Fourth of July fireworks lit up the night sky over the National Mall
Heavy rain that soaked Washington all
day forced the White House to cancel its annual picnic for military
members and their families
An audience member screams after Bruno Mars finished a performance during an Independence Day celebration on the South Lawn
President
Barack Obama says U.S. service members make it possible to enjoy the
'greatest blessings' in 'the greatest country on earth'.
He
says 'freedom is not free' but is paid for by all the men and women of
the military, including those who blanketed the White House South Lawn
for a concert in their honor by Bruno Mars.
Obama
spoke minutes before the annual Fourth of July fireworks lit up the
night sky over the National Mall. He was accompanied by Michelle Obama.
Heavy
rain that soaked Washington all day forced the White House to cancel
its annual Fourth of July picnic for members of the military and their
families.
The USO military service organization sponsored the concert that featured a performance by Mars.
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.
East
River was packed with crowds to watch the fireworks display. Macy's
said the 25-minute show featured more than 50,000 shells set off from
five barges on the river.
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.
People dived into the ocean to take pictures as the sun set and fireworks erupted
People light up fireworks during the USA Independence Day celebrations at North Shore Bandshell Park in Miami Beach
Revellers enjoyed live music, food trucks and yoga on the seaside before the fireworks display began
Meskie
Hyman, 11, exuded patriot pride in a star-spangled shirt and a hairband
with two American flags that fluttered under cloudy skies in Maplewood,
New Jersey.
'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. Among them was
Kearston Andrews, 26, who had traveled with her family from near
Gainesville, Florida, and said security concerns had not affected them.
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.
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!'
Hundreds of thousands of people braved tight security along the East River to watch the annual Macy's Fourth of July fireworks
The event came amid heightened security threats to New York and other major cities, with counter terrorism officers on alert
Fireworks explode over New York's East River behind buildings as the city celebrates amid terror threats
Patriotic: 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
Macy's said the 25-minute show featured more than 50,000 shells set off from five barges on the river
The Empire State building changed color as fireworks erupted around it at around 9pm on Saturday
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.
A
15-year-old girl won the women's division of the 42nd annual cherry
spitting contest in Eau Claire, Michigan, by sending a pit farther than
anyone else: 49 1/4 feet.
'I just took a deep breath and pushed hard,' said Megan Ankrapp of Buchanan. 'I was shocked.'
Kevin
Bartz won the championship with a spit of 48 feet and 8 inches. Ankrapp
was not allowed to participate in the overall championship round
because her earlier spits were too short to qualify.
Bartz
said he was excited to finally beat Brian Krause, the 2014 champ, but
then realized a teenager had sent a pit farther than he did.
Philadelphia: Fireworks explode over the Philadelphia Museum of Art during an Independence Day celebration
Chicago: An eruption of color scatters over Navy Pier in Chicago
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Greg
Holland (56) watches Fourth of July fireworks on the field after a
baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Kansas City, Mo. The Twins
won 5-3
'I look up and say, `Wait a minute. One of the girls beat me,'' said Bartz, 48. 'It's not quite as exciting.'
Visitors to the National Archives building in Washington were invited to sign replicas of the Declaration of Independence.
Some signed with a quill pen while others used modern writing instruments.
The
National Archives - which houses the Declaration of Independence,
Constitution and Bill of Rights - also hosted a reading of the
Declaration of Independence by re-enactors portraying Abigail Adams,
John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, and
George Washington.
Earlier,
a replica of a majestic 18th century tall ship that brought the French
General Lafayette to America arrived in New York Wednesday to take part
in July 4 Independence Day festivities.
The
original three-masted Hermione brought the general, whose full name was
Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier de Lafayette, to America
to rally US rebels fighting for independence from Britain.
To much fanfare and applause, the ship docked at Pier 15 in south Manhattan on the East River.
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