Visitors arrived in droves Thursday—braving stifling heat and tightened security—to witness the Fourth of July festivities in Boston at the July 4th Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular at the Hatch Shell.
Visitors arrived in droves Thursday—braving stifling heat and tightened security—to witness the Fourth of July festivities in Boston at the July 4th Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular at the Hatch Shell.
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Fourth of July fireworks burst over the Charles River.
(Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
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People watched the fireworks along the Esplanade in Boston.
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Confetti rained down on concert goers during the July 4th Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular at the Hatch Shell in Boston.
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People watched the fireworks over the Hatch Shell in Boston.
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Ffireworks over the Charles River.
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Fireworks burst over the Hatch Shell during the finale of the Boston Pops Fourth of July Concert in Boston.
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A rooftop view of the July 4th Boston fireworks over the Charles River.
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More fireworks over the Charles River.
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Fireworks as seen from along the Esplanade in Boston.
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More fireworks over the Charles River.
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Fireworks over the Charles River.
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People across the United States gathered on the patriotic holiday for parades, picnics and fireworks at Independence Day celebrations, held under unprecedented security following the Boston Marathon bombings. Take a look at scenes from across the city.
Pictured: Richelle Mazzone of Salem put her hand over her chest as she sang along with the national anthem.
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(L-R) Ellen Finch, Mohan Mandali and Robert Cummings waved flags during the 4th of July concert.
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Soheir Eilithi of Virginia celebrated with face paint.
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Lisa Rueckerl of Germany held up an American flag during the 4th of July concert at the hatch shell in Boston, Massachusetts July 4, 2013. (Jessica Rinaldi For The Boston Globe)
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Scott Brown and his wife Gail Huff cheered for their daughter Ayla as she performed during the 4th of July concert at the Hatch Shell.
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Marine Sgt. Michael Cotter wave an American flag as they played a tribute to the armed forces.
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Scott Webb, of Lynn (L) hugged MIT Police Sgt Cheryl Vossmer of Arlington as Richard Donohue made a special appearance.
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Louisa Gibbs from Dorset in England and James Razsa of Dorcester played 'ladderball on Carson Beach.
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Benjamin Williams, left, and Verdo Roebuck, cousins from Dorcester, spent their 4th of July afternoon fishing off Carson Beach.
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International students from the Harvard University Summer School Program had a pre-frisbie conference on Carson Beach.
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The crowd is seen at the start of the 4th of July concert at the Hatch Shell.
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People waited on line to take Communion during a service and concert in front of Old South Church on Boylston Street.
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The Walker family of Lafayette, La. relaxed while waiting the start of the Boston Pops Fourth of July Concert at the Hatch Shell.
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Governor Deval Patrick posed for a photo with concert goer Taylor Whelan, 10, during the July 4th Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular.
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Governor Patrick spoke with former Boston Bruins player Andrew Ference and his daughter Ava, 8.
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Katherine Lacey, of Houston, Texas talked on her cell phone.
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A Massachusetts State Police trooper stood watch on the Esplanade before the Boston Pops Fourth of July Concert.
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Gianna Messina, 2, of Braintree grabbed onto an umbrella to take cover from the heat.
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Ray Mutter, left, and Deb Thomas, both of Harrisonburg, Va., blew up beach balls while waiting the start of the Boston Pops Fourth of July Concert.
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A man was carried off as a result of the heat along the Esplanade.
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FBI agents and National Guard soldiers patrolled on the Esplanade.
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US Navy officers stood guard during a 4th of July naturalization ceremony aboard the USS Constitution in Boston.
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Alexis Morris, 12, of Gloucester, Mass., slept under a tent with a display in honor of the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings while waiting for the Boston Pops Fourth of July Concert to start.
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A member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company stood amid confetti following a reading the United States Declaration of Independence.
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(L-R) Tim Peterson, of Falmouth, Teddy Barnes of Falmouth, Talia Landry, of Mashpee, Mark Phillips of Brookline and Sam Shapiro, of Falmouth waded into the Charles River in an attempt to cool off as they waited for fireworks.
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A guest watched as 26 New US citizens attended a naturalization ceremony aboard the USS Constitution
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Confetti covered the crowd after the reading of the Declaration of Independence. An Independence Day Celebration at Boston City Hall Plaza was held, followed by a parade that went by the Old State House, where the Declaration of Independence was read aloud.
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Matt Kimm, 21, of Boston read a book along the Esplanade as he waited for the fireworks.
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A Massachusetts State Police trooper watched over the oval in front of the Hatch Shell ahead of the city's Fourth of July Independence Day celebrations.
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Whitney Thomas, 19, of Ipswich and Garrett Snyder, 20, of Tully, NY shared a moment near the Hatch Shell as they waited for the concert to begin.
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National Guard troops patrolled the oval in front of the Hatch Shell.
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Mike Killory, a 59 year resident originally from Hallifax Nova Scotia, took the oath of allegiance during a 4th of July naturalization ceremony aboard the USS Constitution.
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The USS Constitution made its 17 gun salute as it passed the US Coast Guard Station.
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The procession made its way down Tremont St. from City Hall.
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Bob Bean played the trumpet with the band conducted by Frank Zarba.
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Bystanders stood during the National Anthem during a ceremony.
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Young spectators waited for the start of the Boston Pops Fourth of July concert rehearsal at the Hatch Shell in Boston, Wednesday, July 3, 2013.
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The Haig family stood for the pledge of allegiance before a public reading of the United States Declaration of Independence, part of Fourth of July Independence Day celebrations in Boston.
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Boston Red Sox players during the National Anthem before they play the San Diego Padres at Fenway Park.
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A woman attache a prayer ribbon outside Arlington Street Church, near the site of the Boston Marathon bombings.
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A police officer walked past prayer ribbons and an American flag outside Arlington Street Church.
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A woman sat with American flags during July 4th festivities on the Esplanade.
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A Massachusetts State Police boat patrolled during July 4th festivities on the Esplanade.
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People relaxed during July 4th festivities on the Esplanade.
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Re-enactors marched away from the Old State House following a public reading of the United States Declaration of Independence.
It was part of July Fourth Independence Day celebrations, in Boston.
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Members of the public arrived early at the Esplanade to claim their claim on a patch of turf before the Boston Pops performance. Visitors bringing items were required to bring them in clear plastic bags. Crowds formed lines to get in first to the secured area on this year where security has been heightened tremendously after the Boston Marathon events of April 15 earlier this year.
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Re-enactors in period attire listened as a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company reads the United States Declaration of Independence from the balcony of the Old State House.
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Hundreds of troopers, federal officials, and police officers from local departments patrolled the area around the Esplanade.
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A demonstrator held a sign with a photograph of former U.S. spy agency NSA contractor Edward Snowden and the word "HERO" during Fourth of July Independence Day celebrations in Boston.
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Crowds waited in line for an hour at a checkpoint near the Exeter Lagoon.
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Debbie Schinker of Stow, OH, was the first one in line and who came the previous night to secure a spot.
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Volunteer Amanda Cosgrove placed a wristband on Joe Duggan of Wareham, after the latter passed through a security checkpoint on the Fourth of July 2013 at the Esplanade.
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Volunteers placed wristbands on people after they have gone through security in order to enter the Esplanade on the Fourth of July 2013.
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Event staffers moved metal detector wands over people, and many revelers had to transfer food and drinks from opaque shopping bags to transparent bags provided by the staffers.
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Liz Ramirez and Adie Ramirez, 11, of Palmyra, PA waited in line to access the secured area at the Esplanade on this Fourth of July 2013.
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Clemet Cannone, originally from France and now from New York, carried a case of water atop of his head as he waited to go through security screeners at the Esplanade on this Fourth of July 2013.
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State Trooper divers inspected the canal along the Esplanade on this Fourth of July 2013.
Wireless surveillance cameras were also set up on telephone poles and trees. Most of them are meant to be visible so they can act as a deterrent.
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David Donnaruma of Orlando, Fla. went through a security check point at the Esplanade on this Fourth of July 2013 at the Esplanade.
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Law enforcement agents were everywhere.
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Debbie Schinker of Stow, OH, who was the first one in line and who came the previous night to secure a spot, made small talk with security screeners as she waits in line to get in on this Fourth of July 2013 to the Esplanade.
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Scott Webb, hands up, from Waldorf, MD, was second in line to get into the secured area in the Esplanade on this Fourth of July 2013 goes through a security checkpoint.
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A United States flag casts a shadow on the ground as spectators waited for a public reading the United States Declaration of Independence.
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The Haig family stood for the United States pledge of allegiance before a public reading the United States Declaration of Independence.
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A re-enactor in period attire took a photograph with his mobile phone before a public reading the United States Declaration of Independence.
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A member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company stands amid confetti following a reading the United States Declaration of Independence.
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Re-enactors in period attire listened as a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company read the United States Declaration of Independence from the balcony of the Old State House.
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Fireworks shoot over the Hatch Shell in Boston during the Boston Pops Fourth of July concert rehearsal, Wednesday, July 3, 2013.
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