Devendra Kumar
The Fourth of July was celebrated across the United States with parades, fireworks, and hot dog eating contests, despite the sweltering heat and heavy rain. In New York City’s Coney Island section, fans of competitive eating gathered for the annual Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest, where eating superstar Joey “Jaws” Chestnut claimed his 16th title by downing 62 frankfurters and buns in just 10 minutes. Meanwhile, defending champion Miki Sudo took home her ninth Mustard Belt in the women’s contest, consuming 39 and a half hot dogs and buns.
However, the celebrations were not without their challenges. Rain caused delays and cancellations in some areas, with the 10-km Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race cut short due to possible thunderstorms. Further north, storms were expected from the Dakotas and Minnesota through to Kansas and Missouri, threatening cookouts and firework displays. In South Dakota, hail the size of ping pong balls was reported, postponing the fireworks show in Yankton until Wednesday night.
Nonetheless, many communities refused to let the weather dampen their spirits. In New Orleans, residents welcomed the rain and slightly cooler conditions after days of heat and humidity, as the General Roy S Kelley fireboat returned to the New Orleans Riverfront for a patriotic water show. In Hannibal, Missouri, the hometown of Mark Twain, the Fourth of July weekend coincided with National Tom Sawyer Day, featuring fence-painting and frog-jumping contests. Meanwhile, in Altoona, Iowa, the “CORNival” celebration marked the 100th anniversary of the first acre of commercial hybrid seed corn, grown and harvested in Altoona in 1923.
Unfortunately, the festivities were also marked by some accidents. A fireworks explosion on Monday in western Michigan killed one woman and left nine others injured, while an improperly disposed of firework started a blaze that destroyed two homes in Parker, southeast of Denver. In response, some cities opted for alternative displays, such as drone shows, to avoid the startling noise of fireworks. The Chicago suburb of Highland Park, where a shooting left seven people dead at last year’s Fourth of July parade, also held a drone show.
Despite the challenges and setbacks, the celebrations continued, with gun violence marred some of the celebratory atmosphere. Shootings left five people dead in Philadelphia and three dead in Texas, serving as a sobering reminder of the challenges faced by the nation. Nevertheless, Americans continued to gather together, united in their patriotism and celebration of independence.