SEATTLE — Tens of thousands of people of all different backgrounds united on one lawn in the land of opportunity: this was the scene at Gas Works Park Tuesday night.
Fireworks over Lake Union returned this Fourth of July as part of Seafair's Summer Fourth event.
The event featured a fully choreographed, 18-minute fireworks presentation accompanied by a musical score and many pre-show activities during the day.
Last year was the first year the fireworks returned to Lake Union after a three-year hiatus. According to Western Display Fireworks, the company behind the fireworks display, approximately 10,000 pounds of fireworks were ignited for last year's show.
"We have like a similar celebration in Spain," said Nerea Oton, who is visiting the U.S. from Catalonia.
Like metals melted down to become a stronger alloy, so too are the cultures that make up the United States of America. For one Iranian man named Jahan Wazir, it was his first time visiting his granddaughter in the U.S., who is a doctoral student at University of Washington.
"Nice place, nice to see great people," said Wazir. "We were lucky we got the Visa and we came here to see her."
His granddaughter, Nika Hajari, who has lived in Seattle for ten years, said, "Every time I came to this Fourth of July celebration, I always wished my family was here."
It’s a different story this year, however, with a family reunion one decade in the making.
"This is the first time that I have him next to me," she said of Wazir. "We are from Iran and there was a travel ban until not too long ago.”
Meanwhile, Diana Rodriguez, a resident of Seattle, explained what she is grateful for this holiday.
"Opportunities that the country has given me," she said. "Especially being from Cuba, I'm definitely grateful for the life we’ve been able to have here.”
While all the attendees of the fireworks event have entirely different backgrounds, there is one thing they all share in common: a respect and gratitude for the stars and stripes, and a view that you just can't beat.
"Frankly one of the best fireworks I've seen," said Hajari.
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