Chinese Honored : Nation Shows Its Love of Flag on 4th of July

With their love of Old Glory stirred by the Supreme Court ruling legalizing desecration of it, Americans waved the flag with a passion on the Fourth of July, handing out thousands of new ones and reverently retiring old and tattered ones by burning them.

In Los Angeles, the revelry started early, as an estimated 200,000 people were up before the sun for a predawn fireworks display near the Santa Monica Pier. The fireworks spectators were serenaded by the Los Angeles Pops Orchestra, which performed from an outdoor stage near the beach.

Fireworks Shows

Traditional evening fireworks shows were conducted at the Hollywood Bowl, with two sold-out shows Monday and Tuesday of the Walt Disney Symphonic Spectacular with Fireworks, and at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and Queen Mary in Long Beach.

In Orange County, investigators blamed illegal fireworks for a fire that caused an estimated $105,000 in damage to a home in Garden Grove. The owner was away at the time.

Nationwide, the July Fourth celebration of independence was a chance to show support for the pro-democracy movement in China.

Statue Unveiled

In Boston, the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts honored the protesters who fell in Beijing’s Tian An Men Square. Chinese students joined members of the oldest U.S. military body to unveil a carnation-covered “Goddess of Liberty” statue, built to honor the Chinese pro-democracy movement.

Meanwhile, seven Chinese students at the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma used an Independence Day ceremony to announce that they are seeking political asylum in the United States.

“We want to publicly denounce the Chinese government by asking for asylum,” graduate student Guohua Zheng, 25, said.

In Seattle, about 500 people representing 51 countries became Americans as hundreds of others, including two congressmen, welcomed them on a sunny Fourth of July.

In the nation’s capital, it rained on the estimated 20,000 people who turned out for the annual Fourth of July parade.

“Everybody was smiling and being more congenial because we had the bad weather as a common denominator,” said John Shaw, who came to Washington from Augusta, Me.

Flags Given Away

Thousands of flags were given away in Milwaukee and Chicago, and aging hippies at a counterculture gathering in Nevada displayed the Stars and Stripes.

More than a week after the Supreme Court ruled that burning the flag in protest is protected by the Constitution, American Legion posts retired old flags by burning them.

“It’s the proper way to burn any tattered, torn flag that needs to be destroyed,” said John Comer as legionnaires in Manchester, Mass., destroyed 50 old flags in a ceremony that traditionally includes prayers.

In Newport News, Va., Vice President Dan Quayle defended the Bush Administration’s proposal to ban flag burning.

“Around the world, Old Glory is recognized and revered as the symbol of freedom. Too many Americans have laid down their lives in the defense of freedom to treat this symbol lightly,” Quayle said at a ceremony to honor the Newport News, the Navy’s newest submarine.

Bush Cleans Up Yard

At his home in Kennebunkport, Me., President Bush observed the holiday by cleaning up clutter created the night before when he had treated friends to a fireworks display in his yard.

Presidential Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater said Bush wanted a quiet day at his six-acre oceanside compound with members of his family. No outings into town or to the golf course were planned, but Bush did spend some time at sea in his boat.

Just outside Miami, Cuban immigrant and exporter Eduardo Martinez again threw open his home, Hacienda Mardenpaz, to tens of thousands. As visitors examined scaled-down versions of the White House and the Statue of Liberty, bands played a mixture of Latin music, country and rock.

“I do this as a tribute to America because we are very grateful to this country,” he said.

Flag Volunteers Cheered

In Milwaukee, about 18 volunteers were cheered by passers-by as they placed 1,500 flags along the streets. “People were honking their horns, giving me the peace sign and giving me thumbs up,” said Marietta Redding. “I love apple pie, grandmas and the flag.”

In Chicago, businessman Ted Kamberos played flag elf for the third year, planting 1,000 American flags along the streets with help from a dozen friends. “There are so few people in America who would consider burning a flag. They’ve given this gentleman a stage, and I think they’re making a lot of hoopla about nothing,” the 41-year-old Greek immigrant said of the Supreme Court decision that upheld a protester’s right to burn the flag.

American flags fluttered at the 18th annual Rainbow Family of Living Light reunion of more than 5,000 people in Nevada’s Humboldt National Forest. “This Independence Day means a lot to me, because it means freedom from power, from authority,” said Linda Edwards, 45, a Santa Cruz, Calif., activist for the homeless.

Sing-Along in Moscow

In celebrations abroad, pianist Van Cliburn led Americans in Moscow in a rousing Fourth of July sing-along that captured the spirit of improved superpower relations.

In Toronto, a crowd of about 20,000--mostly American Shriners--celebrated Independence Day by throwing one of the biggest parades in the city’s history, and in Panama U.S. troops marked the holiday with a 50-cannon salute.