Jul 5, 2008 7:57 am US/Pacific
Fireworks Fly All Over Southern California
LOS ANGELES
Fireworks flew in full view of most of Los Angeles County, thanks to the dozens of professional fireworks shows held on Independence Day.
Among the dozens of shows were extravaganzas at the Rose Bowl, Exposition Park, the Queen Mary, Marina Del Rey and Cabrillo Beach, to mark the 232nd anniversary of the nation declaring its independence from Britain.
"AmericaFest 2008" is the Rose Bowl's 82nd annual Fourth of July festival. Along with the fireworks will be performances by five of the nation's best-known drum and bugle corps, including Pacific Crest from Diamond Bar. Tickets are $13 and children 7 and under are free.
At Exposition Park, the 45-minute "Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular will begin at dusk. The best viewing spots will be on Christmas Tree Lane, just north of the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, or the South Lawn, just south of the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History. Admission is free.
Organizers say the state's largest fireworks display will be at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, starting at 9 p.m., at the end of a day long fete that will include carnival rides, games and performances by more than 15 bands.
The Hollywood Bowl will ring in Independence Day with "The July 4th Fireworks Spectacular: A Ball at the Bowl with the L.A. Dodgers." Dodger organist Nancy Bea Hefley will begin the concert and the Los Angeles Philharmonic will perform classic baseball music. Hall of fame Manager Tommy Lasorda will take the lead on a sing-along of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game."
In Pico Rivera, Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, read the names of the 21 armed forces member from his district killed in Iraq and Afghanistan near the Eternal Flame. A bell will be rung after each name and a military honor guard will stand by.
"I merely want to recognize these brave men as we celebrate the birth of our nation," Calderon said. "I want to acknowledge the very high price in human sacrifice that has been paid in the name of honor, duty and country."
In his Independence Day message, President Bush said that "more than two centuries ago, bold and courageous visionaries pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor in signing the Declaration of Independence. Guided by ancient and eternal truths, our forefathers proclaimed to the world that liberty was the natural right of all mankind and in doing so, began one of the greatest chapters in human history."
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