Americans Celebrate Independence Day

The Boston Pops Orchestra performs during rehearsal for their Fourth of July concert at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade in Boston, July 3, 2012.

U.S. soldiers cut a cake during U.S. Independence Day celebrations in Kabul, July 4, 2012.

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, East Rutherford, New Jersey, July 3, 2012.

Ayden Massey, 19 months old, of Seoul, watches the band "Absolute" from the Philippines performing at 4th of July celebrations at US Army Garrison-Yongsan in South Korea, July 4, 2012. (S.L. Herman/VOA)

A boy in patriotic wear holds balloons aloft on US Army Garrison Yongsan, South Korea, July 4, 2012. (S.L. Herman/VOA)

A fan wearing an American flag themed shirt at Nationals Stadium for the July 4 baseball game between the Washington Nationals and San Francisco Giants, Washington. (J. Randle/VOA)

Fireworks behind a busy street in the Adams Morgan district of Washington, 2011. (Alison Klein/VOA)

Fireworks over the Lincoln Memorial, July 4, 2011. (Brian Allen/VOA)

Independence Day Fireworks in Columbus, Nebraska. (Brent Schumacher/via Flickr)