Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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Americans Celebrate 230th Birthday
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=12E77D1:3919ACA An estimated half
a million people gathered in Washington for the festivities
celebrating 4th of July holiday Across the United States, millions of
people celebrated the Fourth of July holiday, marking the 230th
anniversary of America's independence. An estimated half a million
people gathered in Washington D.C. for the festivities.







The Declaration of Independence, a painting by John Trumbull depicts
the men who formally put an end to America's colonial status  The
Independence Day celebration in Washington began with a public reading
of the "Declaration of Independence" - one of the country's founding
documents.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created
equal," said a reader.

Iraq war veterans joined civilians as well as actors portraying
American historical figures to read aloud from the historic document
that the Continental Congress, comprising delegates from the 13
colonies, approved the wording of the Declaration of Independence on
this day in 1776.







The US Capitol seen from the National MallLater in the day, as
temperatures soared to 34 degrees on the national mall, musicians
played for thousands of tourists. The celebrations even drew some
British citizens who joked they held no hard feelings about American
independence.

"Even though we're English, look at all the stars and stripes. We
don't mind being defeated," said one of the British tourists

Washington regularly draws hundreds of thousands of tourists for the
July 4th holiday, and National Park Service Ranger Harry Gedney says
he looks forward to the event every year.

"I've worked this fourth of July 10 years in a row," he said. "For me
it's a really fun event, there are just a lot of people, a lot of sun,
a lot of heat, a lot of noise, a lot of food, a lot of dancing. It's
just a lot of fun, fireworks later, a wonderful concert."

Many visitors like Boston resident Wedlyn Georges, escaped the heat
under the National Mall's large shade trees.



"We're going to go rest a little bit, eat, take a walk and see what's
going on at the festival," she said.



Most people say they best part of the day is the nighttime fireworks
display that ends the festivities. But many, like Maryland-native Amy
Weller say just being in the nation's capital for the Independence
holiday makes it memorable.

"It's Washington D.C. on the Fourth of July, this is the place to be,
it's just nice, it's relaxing," she said.



 


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