July 4th Festivities in Boston

July 4, 2006

On the morning of July 4th, Helen went downtown to see the parade and the reading of the Declaration of Independence while I continued to sleep. Later in the morning, I joined her at Fort Independence on Castle Island (not actually an island) to see the turnaround of the U.S.S. Constitution. That evening we watched the fireworks from our apartment as usual.

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A parade of military personnel, musicians, and musketeers travels through the city after starting from City Hall Plaza.

The crowd follows the parade to the Granary Burying Ground.

The musketeers fire periodically.

Arriving at the Granary Burying Ground, to honor selected graves with a tribute and a wreath.

At the end of each tribute, five musketeers fire a round.

Mayor Menino of Boston helps to pay tribute to Faneuil's grave.

Faneuil's grave is decorated with a wreath.

Mayor Menino dedicates a wreath at Robert Treat Paine's grave.

Next, the parade gears up to go to the Old State House.

The celebration continues at the Old State House, from which the Declaration of Independence was first read.

Reading of the Declaration of Independence.