Millions Turn Out for America's Birthday

Jul 05, 07:48 AM

Current Headlines: By SAMANTHA GROSS

By Samantha Gross

The Associated Press

NEW YORK

Thousands of people staked out viewing spots Wednesday for Fourth of July pyrotechnics extravaganzas, while rain in the East and dangerously dry conditions elsewhere canceled some festivities.

America's birthday celebration opened in Philadelphia with a reading of the Declaration of Independence at Independence Hall, and descendants of signers of the original declaration were on hand for a symbolic ringing of the Liberty Bell.

About 3 million people were expected to watch the Macy's pyrotechnics show in New York - billed as the nation's biggest, with 40,000 fireworks - from vantage points up and down the East River and elsewhere, said show spokesman Orlando Veras.

The threat of storms forced officials in several eastern Pennsylvania cities to postpone fireworks shows. Dry weather curtailed some celebrations. Breckenridge, Colo., canceled its fireworks show because of the high fire danger. In Washington state, private fireworks were banned in Seattle, Tacoma and parts of Spokane.

In the South, some cities across Georgia considered canceling fireworks displays because of a drought, but two big shows stayed on the schedule for Atlanta: one downtown and one at Lenox Square in Buckhead.

The festivities and patriotic observances took place under heightened security in the aftermath of the attempted car bombings in Britain.

Hundreds of officers from about 20 law enforcement agencies were on duty in Washington, D.C. The Mall was fenced off and visitors were required to pass through one of 19 security checkpoints, which opened at 10 a.m.

"We're expecting a record crowd to come out this year and enjoy the fireworks," said U.S. Park Police spokesman Sgt. Robert Lachance. Crowds have reached 500,000 people or more in the past.

On Wednesday afternoon, severe weather that brought a tornado warning for Washington's suburbs prompted authorities to evacuate thousands of people gathered on the Mall. Authorities said the evening's activities would continue as planned, and the crowds were allowed back a couple of hours later.

Security measures at the New York region's tunnels, bridges and airports remained heightened after failed attacks on London and Glasgow, Scotland, last week, and no additional precautions were taken for the holiday, said Marc LaVorgna, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

In Massachusetts, 20 local, state and federal agencies were assigned to help police the annual Boston Pops concert and fireworks show. Car and boat traffic were banned from the area and security was tightened at mass transit stations.

About 1,000 people from around the globe became U.S. citizens at Walt Disney World, raising their right hands in front of Cinderella's Castle at the Magic Kingdom as the oath was read by Emilio Gonzalez, head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

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