DC is the focal point of America’s 244th birthday celebrations on Saturday, with a July 4 celebration with an overpass and a fireworks show branded “the greatest of all.”
The White House, in the center, is obscured by the red and blue smoke from fireworks on the Ellipse during a “Salute to America” event in the South Lawn of the White House, Saturday, July 4, 2020 in Washington. (AP Photo / Alex Brandon)
AP / Alex Brandon
The US Navy Blue Angels and the US Air Force Thunderbirds fly over the White House during a “Salute to America” event in the South Lawn of the White House, Saturday, Dec. 4. July 2020 in Washington. (AP Photo / Alex Brandon)
AP / Alex Brandon
The US Navy Blue Angels and the US Air Force Thunderbirds fly over the White House during a “Salute to America” event in the South Lawn of the White House, Saturday, Dec. 4. July 2020 in Washington. (AP Photo / Alex Brandon)
AP / Alex Brandon
President Donald Trump speaks during a “Salute to America” event at the South Lawn of the White House on Saturday, July 4, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo / Patrick Semansky)
AP / Patrick Semansky
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump watch as the US Army’s Golden Knights parachute team descends during a “Salute to America” event in the South Lawn of the White House, Saturday, Dec. 4. July 2020 in Washington. (AP Photo / Alex Brandon)
AP / Alex Brandon
Guests await President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump during a “Salute to America” event at the South Lawn of the White House on Saturday, July 4, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo / Patrick Semansky)
AP / Patrick Semansky
Guests expect the “Salute to America” event and President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to begin at the South Lawn of the White House on Saturday, July 4, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo / Patrick Semansky)
AP / Patrick Semansky
Minutes before the start of the overpass, crowds on the National Mall increased, but were still smaller than in previous years, according to WTOP journalist Ken Duffy. (WTOP / Ken Duffy)
WTOP / Ken Duffy
The southern part of the National Mall was nearly empty at approximately 5:30 pm, just over an hour before the start of the overpass. (WTOP / Ken Duffy)
WTOP / Ken Duffy
The crowd at the National Mall in the early afternoon was light, reported Ken Duffy of WTOP. But people from as far away as California came to see the festivities. (WTOP / Ken Duffy)
WTOP / Ken Duffy
One of four security checkpoints to enter the National Mall on July 4 (WTOP / Ken Duffy)
WTOP / Ken Duffy
The US Park Police installed mask gift stations near the National Mall and had more than 300,000 masks to give away to visitors. (WTOP / Ken Duffy)
WTOP / Ken Duffy
The US Park Police had given away eight boxes full of these mask packs at approximately 4:15 pm (WTOP / Ken Duffy)
WTOP / Ken Duffy
DC is the focal point of America’s 244th birthday celebrations on Saturday, with a July 4 celebration featuring a speech by President Trump, overpasses, and a fireworks show branded “the greatest of all.” .
Despite warnings from DC Mayor Muriel Bowser to stay home during the holidays to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the National Mall opened for visitors, and the US Park Police had 300,000 masks for the event. . Over 100 hand washing stations were also placed throughout the shopping center. The Department of the Interior and the National Park Service urged visitors to follow CDC guidelines for meetings, including wearing a mask and social distancing.
Along with those who attended the National Mall, crowds also gathered to protest during the holidays in other parts of the District.
The first fireworks kicked off the festivities on the National Mall around 7 pm, after an Air Force One flyover. A brief flurry of red, white, and blue fireworks was followed by applause from those gathered around the reflective pool. .
Fireworks at the National Mall after the Air Force One overpass # july4th pic.twitter.com/49axEuI3PG
– Ken Duffy (@KenDuffyNews) July 4, 2020
Five vintage WWll planes in tight formation flew over the National Mall just before 7:30 pm, a host of other planes circled the lawn about 30 minutes later.
Old World War II aircraft during the Salute to America flyover here at the National Mall # july4th pic.twitter.com/ZieXpOspvp
– Ken Duffy (@KenDuffyNews) July 4, 2020
I greet America Stealth Bomber over the National Mall followed by fighter jet escort # july4th pic.twitter.com/35Y4GGIJ82
– Ken Duffy (@KenDuffyNews) July 4, 2020
Thunderbirds and Blue Angels cross the National Mall for Salute to America pic.twitter.com/V0UZ4QT36S
– Ken Duffy (@KenDuffyNews) July 4, 2020
President Trump made comments at the White House as part of the “Salute to the United States.” Repeating some of what he said on Mount Rushmore on Friday, the president pointed to protesters who toppled the Confederate monuments and spoke about an executive order he signed to create a new park that will house statues of American heroes.
“Those who lie about our history, those who want us to be ashamed of who we are, are not interested in justice or healing. Its objective is demolition. Our goal is not to destroy the largest structure on earth, what we have built, the United States of America, “Trump said.
The president also referred to the pandemic, saying that the United States will develop a coronavirus vaccine or therapeutic solution “well before the end of the year.”
Minutes before the president’s speech and moments before the overpasses began, WTOP’s Ken Duffy reported that the crowds were small in the mall compared to previous July 4 celebrations. According to Duffy, about half of the crowd seemed to be wearing masks.
“I was definitely expecting to see more people just because of the other events I’ve been here before,” said William Klein, an Arlington resident who attended the event, just before 6 p.m. M. “But it is early, so maybe they ‘later”.
Klein compared the crowd at the time to that of an average Saturday or Sunday crowd at the mall.
Providing a visual perspective, this is the largest collection of people here on the National Mall.
Most took refuge from the heat before the start of Salute to America # july4th pic.twitter.com/FqOR2NdBOZ
– Ken Duffy (@KenDuffyNews) July 4, 2020
But Duffy reported that one of the free mask stations that opened early in the afternoon had delivered eight boxes of masks around 4:15 p.m.
Among those who gathered at the mall in the early afternoon, Duffy spoke to people who traveled from Alabama, Tennessee, and California to the event.
“If that virus is going to take me, it is going to take me,” a visitor from Lebanon, Pennsylvania told Duffy. “We are taking all our precautions, but I am here with my lady away from all those who follow the protocols.”
Ken Duffy of WTOP contributed to this report.
