The USA celebrates our 250th birthday on the Fourth of July. Much of this begins tomorrow, so I will attempt to summarize what should be the highlights.
But first, think you're having a bad day? Consider the following from Google AI:
Further, according to Google AI:
The weather for the 250th anniversary celebrations in Washington D.C. and New York City will be dangerously hot and humid, with prolonged extreme heat alerts in effect across both regions. The stifling temperatures are driven by a massive heat dome that is engulfing much of the East Coast . [1, 2, 3]
Conditions in both cities are expected to feature:
- Scorching Temperatures: Highs are expected to exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, with heat indices reaching between 110 and 115 degrees during the afternoon . [1]
- Little Nighttime Relief: Overnight temperatures will hover near 80 degrees, making prolonged exposure highly hazardous. [1, 2]
- Thunderstorms: While extreme heat dominates, scattered pop-up thunderstorms may develop, creating unpredictable conditions for outdoor events. [1, 2]
By now you know that there are two competitive organizations angling for attention.
- A decade ago, the U.S. Congress created bipartisan America 250 to plan for this July 4th celebration. Their foci were in major cities throughout the country.
- At end of last year, President Donald Trump one-upped America 250 by forming his own Freedom 250 team to produce a more spectacular celebration in DC.
- Funding for America 250 was partly siphoned to Freedom 250.
What is President Trump doing over the next few days.
- Replaced his Air Force One with a refurbished Boeing 747 from Qatar as Air Force One Interim, which will someday go to the Trump presidential library. Boeing will be delivering a new Air Force One in 2028.
So anyway, this new plane took him to North Dakota, where he gave a speech, then dedicated the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota.- This new attraction will be opened on July 4.
- Why now and not soon after he left the presidency?
- Presidential libraries only began when the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library opened in Fremont, Ohio in 1916.
- In 2019, the North Dakota Legislative Assembly authorized a $50 million endowment for this purpose, but only if an additional $100 million could be raised.
- Teddy Roosevelt spent some time in North Dakota just after the tragic deaths of his wife and mother on Valentine's day in 1884.
Roosevelt was at work in the New York state legislature attempting to get a government reform bill passed when he was summoned home by his family. He returned home to find his mother, Mittie, had succumbed to typhoid fever. On the same day, his wife of four years, Alice Lee, died of Bright’s disease, a severe kidney ailment. Only two days before her death, Alice Lee had given birth to the couple’s daughter, Alice.
- He said this memory of his re-birth influenced him to become president.
Tomorrow, Trump will travel to South Dakota for the first fireworks display in six years at Mount Rushmore National Memorial.- On 28January2025, Representative Anna Luna (R-Fla) introduced legislation to add Trump to Mount Rushmore.
- The bill is stalled.
- Anyway, experts have indicated that the available rock is not stable enough for another president.
He then returns to DC to give his July 4th speech. What time, exactly, will this occur, and end?- The Salute to America 250 Celebration begins as 7PM EDT.
- Trump will begin speaking at 9:45PM EDT.
- Fireworks from 10:30 EDT.
- Then, what has been announced as the biggest fireworks show on record.
- Apparently, #1 occurred in the Philippines in 2016. Watch this 30-minute video.
- Pyrotecnico said they will have 860,000 fireworks in a 40-minute show.
- That massive New York City July 4th show usually has 85,000 fireworks shells for half an hour, but supposedly will be significantly larger this year.
- TV?
New York City also has grand plans for the weekend.
- The Parade of Sails for the Sail4th250 event will feature Tall Ships and an International Review from than 20 countries sailing up the Hudson River from Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to the George Washington Bridge
- There will be a smaller flotilla on July 3 at 1PM EDT on ABV
- Starting at 9:27AM on July 4, up to 60 tall ships will pass along this 15-mile waterfront, 6 hours from 7AM to 1PM ET on NBC and Telemundo.
- These ships will largely remain in the harbor area through July 8 for public tours.
The ball used for New Year's Eve at Times Square will drop to mark midnight.- Not once, but 8 times for each of American time zones, that extend from UTC-4 (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands), called Atlantic Standard Time, all the way West to Samoa Standard Time (UTC-11), which is used by American Samoa.
- I don't quite understand this, but...
Because Guam is geographically further west (closer to Asia) but sits just before the International Date Line, its calendar is further ahead. Samoa is technically closer to the Americas, but it falls after the International Date Line. [2]
- First drop at 10AM on July 3, marking midnight in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
- Then hourly, with the traditional 11:59PM ET countdown in New York City, culminating the Giving 4th Broadcast Benefit Show, which begins at 9PM ET, hosted by Jim Gaffigan and featuring performances by Mary Blige, Brad Paisley and NE-YO.
- The final ball drop is scheduled for 7AM ET on July 4, marking midnight in American Samoa.
- Watch America250.org or use America's Block Party Mobile App. Also:
- Independence Eve (July 3): Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen will reunite to host a special from Times Square from 8:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. ET, featuring musical performances and a midnight ball drop. [1, 2, 3]
- Independence Day (July 4): Live coast-to-coast coverage begins at 12:00 p.m. ET, featuring national correspondents, military tributes, and the network’s exclusive broadcast of the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Finally, PBS will televise "A Capitol Fourth: 250th Weekend Celebration" on Friday, July 3rd (check local listings). The star-studded event will feature musical performances by Chicago, Trace Adkins (debuting a new song) , Patti LaBelle, Kool & The Gang, Alan Jackson, and Carly Pearce . [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
The historic 250th-anniversary special will also feature: [1]
- The Lineup: Hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro, the concert features music across genres with the National Symphony Orchestra. [1, 2, 3]
- Special Guests: Appearances by stars like Gary Sinise. [1, 2]
- Historic Fireworks: For the 250th birthday, the fireworks display is moving from the National Mall to George Washington's Mount Vernon in Virginia, promising the biggest display in its history. [1, 2]
- Additional Broadcasting: On the actual night of the Fourth, PBS will broadcast America Made in Virginia: 250 Years Together from Colonial Williamsburg
- England's captain, Harry Kane scored twice in the final minutes to just edge the Democratic Republic of Congo, 2-1. Will next play Mexico in Mexico City at 8PM ET on July 5.
- Belgium was down 2-0 against Senegal in the 86th minute, and miraculously pulled off a 3-2 victory. Will now play the USA in Seattle at 8PM ET on Monday, July 6.
- Games today.
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