Thousands Flock To Boston for Celebration

The Boston area brought in the first Fourth of July of the new millennium in grand fashion, celebrating the nation's independence with parades, concerts and the traditional fireworks displays.

Thousands flocked to events held all day throughout the city, enjoying the sights and sounds of the patriotic festivities.

The day started with a 9 a.m. flag-raising ceremony by Mayor Thomas M. Menino at City Hall Plaza, followed by crowds gathering at the Old State House for a reading of the Declaration of Independence.

The masses then followed a parade of revolutionary war re-enactors, marching bands and armed services units to Faneuil Hall, where inside a captivated audience listened to speeches and a rousing rendition of "Stars and Stripes Forever" by the John Shea Military Band.

"This is the best time of year to be in Boston," Menino told the audience.

Shortly after 1 p.m. the Shriners, an international fraternal organization which helps fund children's hospitals, led a festive parade through the streets of Boston.

Wearing their traditional maroon fez hats, the group rode camels, go-carts and mini cars from Copley Square to City Hall, drawing an estimated 300,000 people to the four-hour spectacle.

Over 4,500 Shriners--who were all in Boston for the groups national convention--participated in the parade (see related story, this page).

But the best-attended Independence Day event occurred at the Hatch Shell near the banks of the Charles River, where an estimated 400,000 spectators gathered at nightfall for music and the dazzling fireworks.

Some spectators showed up as early as sunrise and came well-prepared with blankets, food and even tents.

During the long wait, some concert-goers cooled off by riding rafts in the lagoon and participating in waterfights--occupying themselves and entertaining those on the water banks.

After 8 p.m., the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra performed several patriotic classics such as "America the Beautiful" and "God Bless America," and folk singer Don McClean sang his trademark tune "American Pie."

After its rendition of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture," complete with cannons and church bells, the orchestra synchronized its playing with a huge fireworks display over the Charles.

The 30-minute show took more than six months to design and choreograph and used 5,000 fireworks.

Summer school proctor Aric A. Christal '00 brought his entire proctor group to the concert and fireworks show, just as he has done for the last three summers.

"I think July 4th is a really special day for the American people," Christal said. "It should be remembered and celebrated every day."

For many in the crowd, it was their first time to see an Independence Day celebration, American-style.

"I'm very excited about the holiday since it is my first time to spend July 4th in America," said summer school student Sung Min You, who is from South Korea.

"We don't have such patriotic events in Italy," said summer school student Ceren Gurkan, who lives in Rome. "Other than football matches, such excitement for one's country is rarely seen."

But You said she believed the holiday meant more than just the celebrations.

"We should pray for the soldiers who fought for independence," she said.

Local Festivities

Cambridge held its own Fourth of July ceremonies last Saturday, celebrating the 1775 arrival of George Washington to Cambridge with "Revolutionary Cambridge Discovery Day."

Cambridge Mayor Anthony D. Galluccio and former mayor Francis H. Duehay '55 presided at a ceremony at Fort Washington, the only remaining revolutionary fort in Cambridge.

Washington, played by former Cambridge Historical Society director Warren Little, then led the procession through Harvard Yard to Cambridge Common, where revolutionary war re-enactors held musket-firing demonstrations and discussed 18th-century life with Cambridge residents.

Amalia Goldvaser and Yibei Shen contributed to the reporting of this article.