U.S. Marks 250th Anniversary With Fireworks Display and Presidential Address

More than 850,000 fireworks will be launched from two land sites and eight barges on the Potomac River during a 40-minute display on July 4. The show is intended to break the current Guinness World Record of 810,904 projectiles set in the Philippines in 2016.

m. from a stage in front of the World War II Memorial. A senior administration official said the remarks will cover the past 250 years, the next 5 to 15 years and accomplishments from both the current and previous terms. The same official noted that the address will contain political elements, including comments aimed at recent primary-election results.

The president has said the speech may run longer than planned to demonstrate endurance in temperatures forecast near 107 degrees.

Pyrotecnico president Rocco Vitale said the display is designed to open and close with sequences intended to leave spectators in awe. He added that the company has worked on the show since January with the goal of marking the scale of the anniversary.

The designation places the Secret Service in charge of coordinating federal, state and local agencies after authorities disrupted a drone-related plot targeting administration officials last month. , with water stations, misting areas and additional medical staff provided for heat relief.

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