Independence Day marked with lots of pomp, dazzle

NEW YORK — Americans’ celebration of their country’s 241st birthday Tuesday included big-time fireworks, small-town parades and the quirky spectacle of competitive hot dog eating.

For all the pomp and celebration, July Fourth marks a day of shared traditions in a nation that has grappled with divides this past year. And in an era of concerns about security, the Independence Day celebrations were mixed with precautions.

In New York, throngs watched the annual Macy’s fireworks show, which involved 60,000 shells launched from several on the East River and performances by Jennifer Lopez, Sheryl Crow, Brad Paisley and others.

For President Donald Trump’s first Independence Day in office, he and first lady Melania Trump hosted a picnic for military families at the White House, followed by a fireworks viewing for military families and staffers. The capital city’s fireworks festivities included performances by The Beach Boys, The Four Tops, country musicians Kellie Pickler and Trace Adkins, and two characters who fought for independence in a galaxy far, far away — “Star Wars” droids R2-D2 and C-3PO. This year marks the movie’s 40th anniversary.

More than 15,000 new citizens were sworn-in during more than 65 Independence Day-themed naturalization ceremonies across the country in locales ranging from courthouses to parks to aircraft-carriers-turned-museums.

Record-setting eater Joey “Jaws” Chestnut held onto his title at the hot dog eating contest at Nathan’s Famous in New York on Tuesday, breaking the record he set last year. Chestnut chowed down 72 hot dogs in 10 minutes, besting last year’s mark of 70.

Meanwhile, Miki Sudo notched a fourth straight win in the women’s division on the Coney Island boardwalk. She ate 41 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.

In Philadelphia, where the Founding Fathers approved the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, a daylong national birthday party included a freedom ceremony at Independence Hall and a parade through the city’s historic area. Descendants of some of the signers of the Declaration took part in the annual ceremonial tapping of the Liberty Bell.