Independence Day

DOWNTOWN — For Ruby Devera, if ever there was a time to party, Thursday evening was it. Packed into the main auditorium on the second floor of the Glendale Central Library Thursday, more than 200 people came out to celebrate the 109th Philippine Independence Day with song, dance, food and camaraderie. Many at the event conceded that the Filipino population of Glendale is a somewhat quiet bunch when it comes to throwing flashy parties, but the purpose of coming together on this night on such a unified, celebratory note was, for many, the most important reason to throw one. "Holding these kinds of parties is important for our children, to remind them of their roots," Devera said.

The Fourth of July is not like any other holiday. It is a time for family and a time for country. It is a time when we realize how much we all have in common. As hundreds of us flocked to the parks and to local fireworks displays, all were celebrating this Independence Day. Last year, Celebrate Glendale! brought thousands together at Verdugo Park to bring the city's diverse cultures together for a community picnic. While that event did not come back this year, all one had to do was look around at Tuesday's events to see that cultural heritage was not a factor in celebrating America.

The aroma of grilled hot dogs and hamburgers filled the air at Descanso Gardens on Tuesday as chefs from the Patina Catering Group prepared food for the Independence Day family barbecue. Jim Clune of La Cañada Flintridge and his brother-in-law came to take a stroll at the Gardens and stopped to taste the food. They two ate hot dogs and drank Heineken beers. "It was just perfect, it hit the spot exactly," Clune, said of his hot dog. "We had hot dogs with every kind of condiment."

LA CRESCENTA -- Independence Day stands for many things for those of us living on American soil. We asked the following people in attendance at the 13th annual Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce Fireworks Show what the Fourth of July means to them. "The Fourth of July is the day the Civil War ended. My favorite part of today was riding the swings." Ashlyn Adelman, 7, student at Monte Vista Elementary School "I'm Australian, but I think it's a wonderful way to celebrate the birth of a country and its future."

Claudia Peschiutta CRESCENTA VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL -- People were looking for more than pyrotechnic wonders Tuesday at the annual Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce Fourth of July fireworks show at Crescenta Valley High School. Corrie Boer of South Africa was getting a lesson in how Americans commemorate their independence from colonial rule. "They celebrate it, all of them" said Boer, who wore an American flag in her hair. Crescenta Valley High student Mijin Yoo, who moved to the U.S. from Kenya last year, was on campus for her first Fourth of July fireworks show.

The Fourth of July is a time for fireworks, picnics, and parades. Millions of Americans celebrate every year with family and friends. Yet few of us appreciate the historical significance of the day, or why July 4, 1776 altered the course of the history of the world. Independence Day commemorates the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. The Declaration was drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson, because in addition to being a gifted writer and thinker, he was from Virginia.

The Fourth of July is a time for fireworks, picnics and parades. Millions of Americans celebrate every year with family and friends. Yet few of us appreciate the historical significance of the day, or why July 4, 1776, altered the course of the history of the world. Independence Day commemorates the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. The Declaration was drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson, a gifted writer and thinker.

Chuck Benedict If the creeks don't rise, tomorrow will dawn in Glendale as a peaceful, quiet Independence Day. The crowded beaches, congested mountain roads and patio barbecues will signal the last day of a long holiday weekend. The Independence Day idea has created as many differing memories as there are locations and eras. This writer's childhood days were enjoyed in the wooded Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C., a city born of the gestation that began with the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

For Marelena Nuñoz, the Fourth of July is not just about marking the anniversary of the independence of the United States, but about remembering the profound sacrifices made by some Americans. ?It?s a nice day to celebrate the people that one day died for us, and remember them in a way,? said Nuñoz, 66, of Eagle Rock. For her, those sacrifices are personal. Her son, who was a Marine, died in 1999 in a helicopter accident during a training exercise in Okinawa. ?

Independence Day seems a fitting time to take stock of how we’re doing as a nation. It’s hard not to wonder what would have happened if the cast of characters we have sent to Washington to lead us today had been present in Philadelphia in July of 1776. Surely, they never would have agreed on the language of the Declaration of Independence and America never would have been born. They would still be arguing about which truths were self-evident, whether the unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness included abortion rights or gay marriage rights, and whether the 27 enumerated charges against the King of England should be expanded to include his failure to provide universal health care.

Mexican Independence Day is considered to be one of the largest celebrations of its kind in the world. Every Sept. 16, hundreds of thousands of people gather in the capital city’s zocalo — or city center — to hear the president proclaim independence, or Grito de Dolores — the Cry of Dolores. The event commemorates the battle cry of Miguel Hidalgo on Sept. 16, 1810, the day Mexico declared its independence from Spain. Hoover High School junior Claudia Gonzalez, president of the school’s La Voz Latina Club, gave a five-minute presentation to her classmates Friday on the holiday’s significance.

Celebrating Armenian Independence Day is a little tricky. There is more than one Fourth of July equivalent for a nation that was ruled or invaded by Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Mongols, Persians, Ottoman Turks and Russians. More than 8,000 people of varying ethnicities were estimated to have danced, picnicked and celebrated the most recent declaration of independence when Armenia became the first non-Baltic republic to break away from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Wave the flag and raise the tea bags. Some local residents are getting ready for a patriotic celebration of our nation’s independence with just a bit of revolution thrown in for good measure. Two public gatherings are planned in the coming weeks at the Jeffers’ estate, 1823 Foothill Blvd., in La Cañada, in honor of Independence Day. Both events require reservations, and include music, speeches and activities for children and adults, as well as catered meals, with hot dogs, hamburgers and all the other trimmings of a traditional small-town picnic.

For Marelena Nuñoz, the Fourth of July is not just about marking the anniversary of the independence of the United States, but about remembering the profound sacrifices made by some Americans. ?It?s a nice day to celebrate the people that one day died for us, and remember them in a way,? said Nuñoz, 66, of Eagle Rock. For her, those sacrifices are personal. Her son, who was a Marine, died in 1999 in a helicopter accident during a training exercise in Okinawa. ?

Clear blue skies free from rain helped set the festive mood on Sunday, as thousands gathered to celebrate the independence of Armenia during the 9th Annual Armenian Independence Day Festival at Verdugo Park. The event celebrated 16 years of independence from the former Soviet Union. For nearly 70 years, Armenia was under communist rule until Sept. 21, 1991, when the nation gained its independence. The festival — sponsored by the Nor Serount Cultural Assn. — featured games, entertainment and Armenian vendors.

In honor of Latino Heritage Month, the Alex Theatre helped pay tribute to the music of Mexico on Sunday with “Mexico with Love,” a tribute to Mexico’s legendary singers. The concert featured mariachi music, singing and the traditional dances of Mexico. Dressed in folk costumes with decorative accessories, the performers took to the stage and entertained the audience. For many attendees, the concert was a reminder of their Mexican heritage. Cindy Chavira, of San Gabriel, came to the concert with her 11-year-old daughter, Maite Reece.

Lena Savaiinaea, just like most everyone these days, was well aware of the extreme brush fire danger this year as she and her young daughter sat waiting at La Crescenta Elementary School Wednesday for the return of the fireworks show. But as fire crews across the Southland braced for thousands of potential fire-starters to light up the sky for Fourth of July, Savaiinaea said it just wouldn't be the same without the traditional sparkle. Burbank Fire officials canceled that city's fireworks display this year in favor of a more benign laser lightshow at Starlight Bowl, citing the volatility of extremely dry brush in the area born of a record drought this season.

The Fourth of July is a time for fireworks, picnics and parades. Millions of Americans celebrate every year with family and friends. Yet few of us appreciate the historical significance of the day, or why July 4, 1776, altered the course of the history of the world. Independence Day commemorates the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. The Declaration was drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson, a gifted writer and thinker.