New York: The nation's most extravagant display of July 4 fireworks was a triumphant celebration that turned sober briefly to commemorate the ten-year mark since the September 11 attacks.
Tens of thousands of people from around the world streamed to Manhattan's West Side to see the pyrotechnics show over the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey, featuring more than 40,000 shells exploding in choreographed, multicoloured progression.
"It's beautiful," said Rosa Riveras, a 57-year-old health educator from Manhattan, as bursts of light filled the sky. "It's amazing. I'm loving it."
NBC ran an exclusive broadcast from a pier along the river, with Nick Lachey of the show The Sing-Off hosting. Viewers got pre-recorded performances by Beyonce, filmed in front of the Statue of Liberty, and country music star Brad Paisley.
Then the fireworks lit up the sky, tightly choreographed to a half-hour soundtrack from Katy Perry, LeAnn Rimes, Jennifer Hudson and other artists.
Patriotic songs
Beth Cochran of Scottsdale, Arizona, was with two childhood friends from Fishkill, New York. The group of three periodically broke into renditions of God Bless America and other patriotic songs.
"We do not take friendship or freedom for granted," said Cochran, wearing an American flag tank top.
"I'm proud to be an American."
John Woods, a 52-year-old information technology consultant from Wimbledon, England, said he appreciated the diversity of the crowd, which included many immigrants and tourists from around the country and abroad.
"I think it's just a celebration of being an American," he said.
The show, sponsored by Macy's, paid tribute to the 125th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty's debut in New York Harbour. Fireworks blasted off from six barges along the river to heights of 1,000ft.
As Amazing Grace was sung, bursts of golden fireworks lit up the sky to pay tribute to victims of 9/11. Big cheers broke out in the crowd during the finale.
