July 4th Celebrations Across the Nation

July 4: The Iwo Jima Memorial, is seen in Arlington, Va., as fireworks burst over Washington, during the annual Fourth of July display. The Washington Monument and the Capitol can be seen in the distance. (AP)

July 4: Fireworks explode over the Hudson River in New York. (AP)

Fireworks are launched from barges in the Hudson River in New York. (AP)

July 4: A family watches from the Jefferson Memorial as fireworks explode over Washington during the annual Fourth of July display. (AP)

July 4: The Empire State Building, illuminated with red, white and blue lights is seen from across the East River in the Queens borough of New York, backlit by fireworks exploding over the Hudson River during the Macy's Fourth of July fireworks show in New York (AP)

July 4: The Roots's perform during an Independence Day celebration in Philadelphia. (AP)

July 4: Dressed from head to toe in red, white and blue, Jason Utgaard, left, celebrated the 4th of July holiday by skiing Snowbird Ski Resort in Utah. Snowbird was open for the Fourth of July for only the third time in history. (AP)

July 4: Billy Carpenter, of Greenville, S.C., waves a U.S. flag as four F-16 fighter jets from Shaw Air Force Base fly the length of the South Carolina coast for the Salute from the Shore at Litchfield Beach near Pawleys Island, S.C. (AP/The Sun News)

July 4: The USS Constitution fires its cannons off Castle Island in Boston on its annual 4th of July turn around in Boston Harbor. (AP)

July 4: Connor Laverty, left, of Union N.J., paints Mike Buczynksi, right, of Roselle, N.J., red, white, and blue at Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, on Coney Island in the Brooklyn, New York. (AP)

July 4: Competitors at the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest gorge themselves against the clock for "The Mustard Yellow International Belt," at Coney Island, in Brooklyn, New York.  (AP)

July 4: Spectators wave flags as the USS Constitution fires its cannons off Castle Island on its annual 4th of July turn around in Boston Harbor. (AP)

July 4: "Lady Liberty" Bonnie Johnson, 70, tows grandson Turner Johnson, 16 months, in the annual Children's Parade in Wake Forest, N.C. Johnson has been portraying Lady Liberty for 27 years, and this is Turner's first parade. (AP)

July 4: A dog rides in the saddle bag of a horse during a Fourth of July parade in Alameda, Calif. (AP)

July 4: A former U.S. Marine waves an American flag from a Marine Corps float during a Fourth if July parade in Alameda, Calif. (AP)

July 3: Light from Independence Day weekend fireworks is reflected in the water in front of the Bellagio Hotel as they explode over Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. (AP)

July 3: Tourists watch Independence Day weekend fireworks explode over Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. (AP)

July 3: Tourists watch Independence Day weekend fireworks explode over Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. (AP)

July 3: A military color guard stands ready for the playing of the National Anthem during the Boston Pops 4th of July concert rehearsal at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade in Boston. (AP)

July 3: Fireworks shoot skyward behind the Hatch Shell during the Boston Pops 4th of July concert rehearsal in Boston. (AP)

July 3: Fireworks shoot skyward behind the Hatch Shell during the Boston Pops 4th of July concert rehearsal in Boston. (AP)

July 3: Martina McBride performs during the Boston Pops 4th of July concert rehearsal at the Hatch Shell in Boston. (AP)

July 3: Conductor Keith Lockhart, leads an audience sing along backed by the U.S. Army Soldiers Chorus during the Boston Pops 4th of July concert rehearsal at the Hatch Shell in Boston. (AP)

July 3: An audience member dressed as Uncle Sam was invited on stage during the Boston Pops 4th of July concert rehearsal at the Hatch Shell in Boston. (AP)

July 1: Members of the William Diamond Junior Fife and Drum Corp from Lexington, Mass., perform on the site of the USS Constitution as part of Independence Day weekend events in Boston. (AP)