Name: Americans Descend on Washington to Celebrate Independence Day
Uploaded: 2024-07-05T04:21:15.000Z
Description: WASHINGTON—Americans from near and far descended on Washington on July 4 to commemorate the 248th anniversary of American independence.

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WASHINGTON—Americans from near and far descended on Washington on July 4 to commemorate the 248th anniversary of American independence.

The day began in the capital city at the National Independence Day Parade, where both nearby residents from Washington, Virginia, and Maryland, as well as some who had trekked across the country to be there, turned out by the thousands.

Among those who made an especially long journey to brave the near 100-degree temperatures in the capital was Tanish Moodra, who flew in to see the parade from Houston, Texas.

Asked what America means to her, she replied, “I think of opportunities. I like the opportunities that are provided here and just the chance to grow into something that you want to be.”

Robert and Iris flew in from Seattle to watch the parade live.

“We're in the freest country in the world and, you know, it's a pleasure to be here, we’re grateful to be here,” Robert told The Epoch Times when asked what Independence Day meant to him.

He emphasized the Fourth of July as a day of unity among an often divided American electorate.

“Even though there are all kinds of things going on in the world, we come together on one day to celebrate our independence and also get together and see all the military representation here,” he said, referencing service members who took part in the parade.

Among those service members at the parade was Air Force Col. Cindy Dawson.

Asked what she cherishes most about America, Col. Dawson told NTD, a sister media outlet to The Epoch Times, “All the freedoms it stands for.

“Everything we've been able to do since [we were] very young children until today is because of our great nation. As an Air Force officer myself, I couldn't be more proud to stand in representation of that and hopefully spread that across the world as well.”

Opportunity, freedom, and diversity were among the most-mentioned ideas among parade-goers asked about what America means to them.

Those ideas were mentioned by Andrew Wade, a naturalized American citizen originally from the United Kingdom.

Asked what he cherished most about America, Mr. Wade said, “the freedoms, the liberty and justice for all, you know, opportunity to not to be oppressed, to have freedom of speech.”

The National Independence Day parade in Washington on July 4, 2024. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

Falun Gong practitioners, followed by the Tian Guo Marching Band, during the National Independence Day parade in Washington on July 4, 2024. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

Amid the parade, the nearby National Archives—which has housed the original copy of the Declaration of Independence since 1952—held a ceremonial reading of the Declaration, continuing a more than 50-year-old tradition.

The reading of each line was followed by a vocalized “boom.”

“It was really, really fun,” Michael Krausz, a chemical engineer from St. Louis, told NTD.

Following the parade, several fireworks shows were hosted in and near the capital, most prominently at the National Mall.

Meanwhile, lawmakers also took the opportunity to celebrate American independence.

“Happy Independence Day, America!” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) wrote in a statement. “May God continue to bless the greatest nation in the history of the world—and give us the wisdom and stamina to preserve it.”

On the other side of the political aisle, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said in a statement, “Happy Independence Day!!!

“Let us recommit to the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for every single American.”

Over on the other side of Capitol Hill, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said that on July 4, “We celebrate the vision and sacrifice of those who overthrew tyranny in favor of democracy and rule of law.

“And we re-pledge to keep American (sic) true to its highest ideals.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), meanwhile, celebrated “the bold first steps of the great American experiment” in his own post about the holiday.

President Joe Biden also delivered remarks to military service members during a barbecue at the White House.

“We’re the only nation in the world founded on an idea. Not ethnicity, not geography, not anything else—on an idea,” President Biden said during his brief remarks.

He said that idea was encapsulated in the Declaration of Independence, adding that “all men and women are created equal.”

“We mean it,” Biden said. “We’ve never fully lived up to it, but we’ve never, ever, ever walked away from it.”

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/americans-descend-on-washington-to-celebrate-independence-day-5680541">The Epoch Times</a></em>

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