Fourth of July 2012

Fireworks light up the sky during the annual Macy's Fourth of July fireworks display over the Hudson River as seen from New York, Wednesday, July 4, 2012.

The Empire State Building, illuminated with red, white and blue lights, is seen from the Queens borough of New York, backlit by fireworks over the Hudson River, during the Macy's Fourth of July fireworks show, Wednesday, July 4, 2012, in New York.

Spectators watch as fireworks light up the sky over the Hudson River during the Macy's Fourth of July fireworks show Wednesday, July 4, 2012, in New York.

Fireworks light the sky over the U.S. Capitol, left, Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial in Washington on Wednesday, July 4, 2012, as seen from Arlington, Va.

A United States flag waves next to carnival rides as fireworks burst in the air during the Fourth of July Independence Day show at State Fair Meadowlands, July 3, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J.

Banners with the United States flag colors wave as fireworks burst in the air during the Fourth of July Independence Day show at State Fair Meadowlands, July 3, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J.

Anthony Capicotti, 39, right, of Garden State Fireworks, sorts through fireworks as William Turner, 47, assists him in preparation for the night's fireworks show at the State Fair Meadowlands, July 3, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J. The crew will displays a Fourth of July fireworks show at the fair on July 3 and July 4, 2012.

AP Photo/Telegraph Herald, Jeremy Portje

Floyd Tennant Jr., 11, left, pours water over his brother Lucus' head before the start of the annual Independence Day celebrations in Dubuque, Iowa, July 3, 2012.

AP Photo/The Winchester Star, Ginger Perry

Anna Albecker, left of Winchester, Va. and Mark Runningen of Springfield, Va. watch the fireworks from the bleachers at Bridgeforth Field in Jim Barnett Park in Winchester, Va. on July 3, 2012 as part of the city's Independence Day celebration.

People participate in the annual Piatt Sidewalk Chalk American Flag Project celebrating Independence Day at the Piatt's house in Elon, N.C. July 3, 2012.

AP Photo/The Winchester Star, Scott Mason

Tim Shepherd, left, and homeowner Matt Carroll work to attach a lage United States flag to the back of Carroll's home on July 3, 2012, in Winchester, Va., in celebration of Independence Day.

The PNC American Flag balloon is inflated in honor of America for Independence Day on the De Baun Athletic Complex at Stevens Institute of Technology on July 3, 2012, in Hoboken, N.J.. The balloon is the world's largest free-flying American flag. Weighing in at 530 pounds, the flag is flown in the 30th annual N.J. Festival of Ballooning.

The PNC American Flag balloon is put away after being raised in honor of America for Independence Day on July 3, 2012 in Hoboken, N.J.

Maryann Rollins, of Bolton, waits for the start of the Boston Pops Fourth of July concert rehearsal at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade in Boston, July 3, 2012.

Jennifer Hudson performs during the Boston Pops Fourth of July concert rehearsal at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade in Boston, July 3, 2012.

The U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters perform during the Boston Pops Fourth of July concert rehearsal at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade in Boston, July 3, 2012.

Kaye Tuckerman, center, performs with Jennifer Swiderski, left, and Mary Callanan during the Boston Pops Fourth of July concert rehearsal at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade in Boston, July 3, 2012.

U.S. Coast Guard seamen, from left, Azaret Rivera, of Puerto Rico, Elliott Gray, of Melbourne, Fla., and Ryan Gordon, of Newport News ,Va., stand dressed in 1812-era uniforms before the Boston Pops Fourth of July concert rehearsal at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade in Boston, July 3, 2012.

Dropkick Murphys, from left, Al Barr, Ken Casey and James Lynch, perform during the Boston Pops Fourth of July concert rehearsal at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade in Boston, July 3, 2012.

U.S. Ambassador to France, Charles Rivkin and French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault listen to the America's national anthem while U.S. soldiers stand guard at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, on July 4, 2012, during Independence Day celebrations.

People attend Independence Day celebrations on July 4, 2012, in the gardens at the U.S. Embassy in Paris.

Cooks prepare "Stars and Stripes" desserts, fashioned as the U.S. national flag, for a buffet, on July 4, 2012, before a ceremony for the July 4th Independence Day celebrations at the U.S. Embassy in Paris.

World War II veteran Bob Wendt, dressed in his old uniform, listens to keynote speaker Col. Robert C. Kuckuk, Commander, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, July 4, 2012, during the annual Independence Day Flag Raising Ceremony held at Armed Forces Park, in Yuma, Ariz.

Wendt received a standing ovation from the crowd of active duty, retired military and civilians that were on hand for the morning ceremony when his name was announced.

White House kitchen staff prepare corn on the cob for an Independence Day celebration at the White House, July 4, 2012, in Washington.

A Bosnian man looks at the ?Washingtonian? tram, an old tram that has been dusted off and put back on tracks to celebrate U.S. Independence Day, in Sarajevo, Bosnia, on July 4, 2012.

In the 1960s, the tram, popularly referred to as ?Washingtonian?, had been donated by the U.S. to Bosni. The American-made tram has been out of use since the mid-1970s, but the Sarajevo authorities decided to take it out for a ride on July 4 to ?honor its friendship? with the U.S.

U.S. Ambassador to Kenya and former two-star Air Force general Scott Gration, waits to speak to the audience at a U.S. Independence Day event held at the ambassador's residence in Nairobi, Kenya on July 4, 2012.

An Indian boy gets his picture taken as he poses in a cut out of Abraham Lincoln during a function to celebrate American Independence Day at the American center, in New Delhi, India, July 4, 2012.

The Yuma Salvation Army Adventure Corps raises the American flag Wednesday morning at the 26th annual Independence Day Flag Raising Ceremony July 4, 2012, at Yuma, Ariz.

AP Photo/The Daily News Leader, Pat Jarrett

Taylor Shelby, center, portrays Dolly Madison saving the portrait of George Washington, played by Paul Luks, as another actor sets fire to the White House prop in a rehearsal for a play outlining the history of the United States, specifically the war of 1812, on July 4, 2012, in Staunton, Va.

Hundreds flocked to the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton to hear a reading of the Declaration of Independence and to experience Independence Day at historically accurate farms, with admission to the museum free for the holiday.

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