Fourth of July 2012

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Across the United States, Americans celebrated 236 years of independence Wednesday with backyard barbecues, family gatherings and, of course, fireworks. While many celebrations were scaled-down or canceled because of weather-related power outages and concerns of spreading wildfires amid dry, hot weather, many were still celebrating, albeit in less-than-traditional ways.

A United States flag waves next to carnival rides as fireworks burst in the air during the Fourth of July Independence Day show at State Fair Meadowlands, Tuesday, July 3, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Festival-goers watch as the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra plays the "National Anthem" during Festival on the Fourth at the World's Fair Park in Knoxville, Tenn., Wednesday, July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Knoxville News Sentinel, Adam Brimer)
Fireworks light up the sky against the backdrop of a full moon during a Fourth of July celebration in Kansas City, Kan., Tuesday, July 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Fireworks light up the sky during the annual Macy's Fourth of July fireworks display over the Hudson River as seen from New York, Wednesday, July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Furticella)

John Meeks, 16, with Boys Ranch Town, carries an American flag on horseback during the LibertyFest Fourth of July Parade in Edmond, Okla., Wednesday, July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/The Oklahoman, Bryan Terry)
President Barack Obama puts on a red, white, and blue hat, while visiting with service members during the Independence Day celebration on the from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
Chancey Tilley, from left, and her daughters, Hannah and Haylee paddle across Lake Walcott on the Fourth of July in Crowley's Ridge State Park at Walcott, Ark., on Wednesday, July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/The Jonesboro Sun, Saundra Sovick)
Alice Uphoff is shaded by her stars and stripes umbrella as she watches the Patriots Parade on Wednesday, July 4, 2012, in downtown Hutchinson, Kan. (AP Photo/The Hutchinson News, Travis Morisse)
Fireworks light the sky over the U.S. Capitol, left, Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial in Washington on Wednesday, July 4, 2012, as seen from Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Maggie Korell, 8, and Ruthie Alexander, 8, compete on their way to winning a three-legged race during a Fourth of July celebration as they wait for a fireworks display to launch from Pearson Field, Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at Ft. Vancouver in Vancouver, Wash. (AP Photo/The Oregonian, Doug Beghtel)
Sicily Belvin, 3, shares a snow cone with her mother Sarah Belvin during a Fourth of July celebration as they wait for a fireworks display to launch from Pearson Field, Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at Ft. Vancouver in Vancouver, Wash. (AP Photo/The Oregonian, Doug Beghtel)
Fireworks light up the Tree of Five Seasons at the finale of the Freedom Festival on Wednesday, July 4, 2012, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (AP Photo/The Gazette,Liz Martin)
Spectators watch as fireworks light up the sky over the Hudson River during the Macy's Fourth of July fireworks show Wednesday, July 4, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Lucy Fletcher opens wide for a taste of Mom Daisy's frozen Lemonaid during the annual July 4th celebration at Palatine Park in Fairmont, WV, Wednesday July 4, 2012. Temperatures soared into the 90s making celebration uncomfortable for participants. (AP/Times West Virginian, Tammy Shriver)
Fireworks light up the sky over the Philadelphia Museum of Art during an Independence Day celebration, Wednesday, July 4, 2012, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Alison Turner struggles for her straw after being buried by friends on Santa Monica Beach in Santa Monica, Calif., on Wednesday, July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Grant Hindsley)
Fireworks light up the sky during the Freedom Over Texas annual Fourth of July celebration on Wednesday, July 4, 2012, in Houston. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Smiley N. Pool)
A United States flag flies over a field during the Fanfare and Fireworks celebration at the University of Florida on Tuesday, July 3, 2012, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/The Gainesville Sun, Matt Stamey)
Spectators watch the Valley Fourth fireworks show from the Turner Pavilion lawn in Harrisonburg, Va., Wednesday, July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Daily News-Record, Justin Falls)
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, wife Ann Romney, and Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., walk in the Fourth of July Parade in Wolfeboro, N.H., Wednesday, July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
The Empire State Building, illuminated with red, white and blue lights, is seen from the Queens borough of New York, backlit by fireworks over the Hudson River, during the Macy's Fourth of July fireworks show Wednesday, July 4, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Avanyna Schaefer, age 1, smiles while she and her mom, Robyn Pinion, dressed in red, white, and blue, enjoy the 4th of July at the 29th annual Freedom Festival, held at Onslow Pines Park in Jacksonville, N.C., Wednesday, July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/The Daily News, Don Bryan)
Daryl Hall performs with Queen Latifah during an Independence Day celebration, Wednesday, July 4, 2012, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)