People watch fireworks burst behind the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington on Thursday, July 4. People across the United States gathered on Thursday to celebrate Independence Day with parades, picnics and fireworks.
Celebrating the Fourth of July —
People watch fireworks burst behind the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington on Thursday, July 4. People across the United States gathered on Thursday to celebrate Independence Day with parades, picnics and fireworks.
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images
Scott Webb celebrates during the finale of the Boston Pops Fourth of July Concert at the Hatch Shell in Boston.
Celebrating the Fourth of July —
Scott Webb celebrates during the finale of the Boston Pops Fourth of July Concert at the Hatch Shell in Boston.
Michael Dwyer/AP
Fireworks light up the sky behind the Empire State Building during the 27th annual Macy's Fourth of July fireworks show in New York.
Celebrating the Fourth of July —
Fireworks light up the sky behind the Empire State Building during the 27th annual Macy's Fourth of July fireworks show in New York.
John Minchillo/AP
Meriya Merrill, 3, cranes her neck to take in the Independence Day parade in Edina, Minnesota, as her grandmother holds a flag behind her.
Celebrating the Fourth of July —
Meriya Merrill, 3, cranes her neck to take in the Independence Day parade in Edina, Minnesota, as her grandmother holds a flag behind her.
David Joles/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT/Landov
A woman warms up at the Muscle Beach Independence Day bodybuilding contest in Los Angeles.
Celebrating the Fourth of July —
A woman warms up at the Muscle Beach Independence Day bodybuilding contest in Los Angeles.
LUCY NICHOLSON/Reuters/LANDOV
A man displays his patriotic pride while posing for a portrait during Fourth of July celebrations in Prescott, Arizona.
Celebrating the Fourth of July —
A man displays his patriotic pride while posing for a portrait during Fourth of July celebrations in Prescott, Arizona.
JOSHUA LOTT/REUTERS/LANDOV
Children play on the South Lawn of the White House on the Fourth of July. President Barack Obama and the first family hosted members of the U.S. armed services and their families to celebrate the 237th anniversary of the counry's independence from the British Empire.
Celebrating the Fourth of July —
Children play on the South Lawn of the White House on the Fourth of July. President Barack Obama and the first family hosted members of the U.S. armed services and their families to celebrate the 237th anniversary of the counry's independence from the British Empire.
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images
A re-enactor in colonial attire takes a photograph with his mobile phone before a public reading of the Declaration of Independence in Boston.
Celebrating the Fourth of July —
A re-enactor in colonial attire takes a photograph with his mobile phone before a public reading of the Declaration of Independence in Boston.
BRIAN SNYDER/Reuters/LANDOV
An American flag casts a shadow on the ground as spectators wait for a public reading the Declaration of Independence in Boston.
Celebrating the Fourth of July —
An American flag casts a shadow on the ground as spectators wait for a public reading the Declaration of Independence in Boston.
BRIAN SNYDER/Reuters/Landov
Neeley Mathes, 10, stands in front of the judges on Carr Avenue during the costume contest that follows the annual Central Gardens Fourth of July parade in Memphis, Tennessee.
Celebrating the Fourth of July —
Neeley Mathes, 10, stands in front of the judges on Carr Avenue during the costume contest that follows the annual Central Gardens Fourth of July parade in Memphis, Tennessee.
Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal/Landov
Emma Winkler, 3, points as she re-enacts George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River while being pulled down Carr Avenue in Memphis with her 11-month-old sister, Elizabeth Winkler.
Celebrating the Fourth of July —
Emma Winkler, 3, points as she re-enacts George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River while being pulled down Carr Avenue in Memphis with her 11-month-old sister, Elizabeth Winkler.
Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal/Landov
Perennial chomping champ Joey Chestnut, center, wins <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2013%2F07%2F04%2Fus%2Fny-hot-dog-contest%2Findex.html">New York's annual Independence Day hot dog eating competition</a> yet again with a total of 69 hot dogs and buns on Thursday at Coney Island in Brooklyn.
Celebrating the Fourth of July —
Perennial chomping champ Joey Chestnut, center, wins New York's annual Independence Day hot dog eating competition yet again with a total of 69 hot dogs and buns on Thursday at Coney Island in Brooklyn.
John Minchillo/AP
Decked out from head to toe in patriotism, 9-year-old Remi Schaber, left, and her brother Chase, 11, don spandex suits for the Independence Day parade in Cordova, Tennessee.
Celebrating the Fourth of July —
Decked out from head to toe in patriotism, 9-year-old Remi Schaber, left, and her brother Chase, 11, don spandex suits for the Independence Day parade in Cordova, Tennessee.
Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal/Landov
People line the streets to watch a Fourth of July parade in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey.
Celebrating the Fourth of July —
People line the streets to watch a Fourth of July parade in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey.
ERIC THAYER/REUTERS/LANDOV
People participate in the Ridgefield Park parade.
Celebrating the Fourth of July —
People participate in the Ridgefield Park parade.
ERIC THAYER/REUTERS/LANDOV
An observer waves an American flag during the parade in Ridgefield Park.
Celebrating the Fourth of July —
An observer waves an American flag during the parade in Ridgefield Park.
ERIC THAYER/Reuters/Landov
A parade participant rides a penny farthing, or high-wheel bicycle, down the street in Ridgefield Park.
Celebrating the Fourth of July —
A parade participant rides a penny farthing, or high-wheel bicycle, down the street in Ridgefield Park.
ERIC THAYER/REUTERS/LANDOV
Ed Lunderman, a member of a Living History Musket Detail, fires his weapon to represent "the shot heard around the world" during a Fourth of July ceremony at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.
Celebrating the Fourth of July —
Ed Lunderman, a member of a Living History Musket Detail, fires his weapon to represent "the shot heard around the world" during a Fourth of July ceremony at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.
Eric Gay/AP
A child attends a ceremony to reopen the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2013%2F07%2F03%2Fus%2Fgallery%2Fstatue-of-liberty%2Findex.html">Statue of Liberty</a> to the public in New York on July 4.
Celebrating the Fourth of July —
A child attends a ceremony to reopen the Statue of Liberty to the public in New York on July 4.
EDUARDO MUNOZ/REUTERS/LANDOV
Members of the Old Guard attend the reopening ceremony of the Statue of Liberty, marking the first day it opened to the public after being shuttered by Superstorm Sandy in October.
Celebrating the Fourth of July —
Members of the Old Guard attend the reopening ceremony of the Statue of Liberty, marking the first day it opened to the public after being shuttered by Superstorm Sandy in October.
Kena Betancur/Getty Image