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.

At Fort Independence on Castle Island, we wait for the arrival of the U.S.S. Constitution. This fireboat ensured the waterway was clear beforehand.

The U.S.S. Constitution peeks around the edge of the fort as it arrives at Castle Island.

Old Ironsides.

The Constitution fires a 21-gun salute with its cannons.

The Constitution makes its official "turn around" as it begins it journey back to the Navy Yard.

A sleek plane flies over Fort Independence after it takes off from Logan Airport.

Fort Independence.

Bostonians stake their claims on the Esplanade for fireworks viewing later tonight.

The Cambridge skyline, including our apartment at Eastgate, serve as the backdrop for the Esplanade's view of the Charles River basin.

The Boston skyline, Hood Blimp, and the Hatch Shell are aglow just prior to the fireworks.

The fireworks erupt over the Boston skyline.