America celebrated its 250th birthday with various events across the nation. President Trump helped commemorate the anniversary, declaring it “one of the most joyous and glorious milestones of all time.” He honored veterans, including several from World War II and one of the first Black officers to lead a Special Forces team in combat in Vietnam.
National Celebrations
The president was introduced by musical performers, including Lee Greenwood, who performed “God Bless the USA.” The celebrations were marked by severe weather, prompting the cancellation of events in Hartford, Connecticut, and Harrisburg and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Despite the disruptions, Americans came together to reflect on their history and the values that have made their country great.
In Washington, crowds gathered in museums, subway stations, and federal buildings near the National Mall after an evacuation was ordered due to storms. The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center provided shelter for those seeking to escape the heat. In Philadelphia, fireworks began early in the day, and hundreds of visitors gathered at Independence Hall to await the celebrations.
In New York, tall ships made a procession around the Statue of Liberty and up the Hudson River, recalling the fanfare around America’s 200th anniversary in 1976. The 43 ships were followed by a display of aerial might with a stealth bomber and the Navy’s Blue Angels. Patrouille de France, the French Air Force’s acrobatic teams, flew over New York Harbor with their red, white, and blue trails, evoking images of the American flag.
Original reporting: Alabama News Network — read the source article.