Esplanade crowd beams with pride, basks in glory of a sunny Fourth
Thousands lined the banks of the Charles River yesterday for Boston’s annual Fourth of July celebration under a dazzling sun that rivaled fireworks.
After an economically bleak year and a long stretch of gray, rainy weather, Olivia Hernandez saw the bright rays as heaven-sent.
“For some reason it always works out, somebody up there is just giving us the lift we need to keep America growing stronger,’’ she said.
Hundreds began milling outside the oval at the Hatch Shell early yesterday morning to save good spots for the orchestra portion of the “Pops Fireworks Spectacular,’’ which is aired nationally on CBS and draws more than 500,000 visitors from across the world. Founded in 1974, the performance includes blasts from howitzer cannons, church bells, and what most spectators said was their favorite part of the festivities - fireworks.
Dan Denette of Easton has seen the show only on YouTube videos and said he was ready for the real thing. He waited in line with a friend yesterday to enter the event, decked out in an oversize Uncle Sam hat.
“It is a gorgeous day today,’’ he said. “We look forward to checking it out.’’
Sitting inside the oval area, Allison Bednarski a physical therapist from Long Island, said she has wanted to come to the event for 15 years. She used to watch the Boston Pops on television when she was a teenager.
“I’m loving it. I even liked standing in line,’’ said Bednarski, who waited for two hours before entering the concert area.
Throughout the rest of the Esplanade, families set up tents and laid out blankets, relishing time to lounge and play under a sun that was hidden for most of June. Most brought coolers and backpacks filled with drinks, snacks, and board games to pass the time.
Music blasted on speakers set up throughout the Hatch Shell, and occasionally booms would sound throughout the park from the howitzer cannons set off by the National Guard.
Miniature American flags flapped in the breeze from the tops of Tanya Harr’s tents at the edge of the Charles River. Harr, 34, sat on a lawn chair with her family, tilting her head back to enjoy the day’s cool air while her son and niece played on the embankment.
Harr, who lives in Boston, said she has been bringing her 8-year-old son, Ivan Auger, since he was a baby.
“I want to see the fireworks because they are loud,’’ Ivan said.
Hernandez and her family set up shop about half a mile down from Harr’s tents. She strung red, white, and blue garlands across lawn chairs enclosing their spot on the grassy knoll. She also stuck star-spangled centerpieces in the ground around their area and wore a patriotic top hat.
“My daughter thinks I overdo it,’’ she said and laughed. “But I do this every year. I tell her, ‘You can sit here or you can leave.’ ’’
Originally from Texas, Hernandez, 63, said she enjoys New England’s American spirit.
“If anybody can survive this recession, I think it is New England,’’ she said.
No one would have guessed Brenda Russell and Jan O’Neil traveled to yesterday’s event from Australia. The pair sported liberty crowns and American flags. O’Neil wore a necklace with large red and blue stars.
Before coming to study at Boston College this summer, Russell, 58, had found Americans arrogant, she said. But yesterday’s event changed her mind, she said. O’Neil said she agreed.
“It is a great opportunity to see Americans in their natural environment,’’ O’Neil joked.
Alexandra Gracia, 16, and Whitney Thomas, 15, proudly displayed their patriotism on their faces, which were painted with stars and stripes. They wore decorated plastic hats and red and blue shirts that together read “Stars and Stripes Forever.’’
The ensembles took seven hours to make yesterday, they said.
What first started as a silly activity three years ago has become proud tradition. And though their outfits said it all, Thomas summed it up with three words: “All for USA.’’
Gracia’s father is serving in Afghanistan as a Navy commander, and she told him about their festive garb over the phone.
“He is proud of us for doing it,’’ she said.
On a quiet bench, deeper inside the park, Gerald Russell, 55, of Quincy, sat alone reading a book. He had taken the T by himself from Quincy to see the fireworks display, he said.
“I’ve seen them on television, and I thought, why not come?’’ Russell said.
The last year has been rough for America, said Russell, who is unemployed.
“As long as we have people who believe in the can-do spirit of America, America will still be America regardless of what happens,’’ Russell said. “It will still be great.’’
Laura J. Ulloa can be reached at lulloa@globe.com 