It was a real blast, a superbash, a party unlike any other party, ever. It stretched from coast to coast, from dawn to the small hours and then some—a glorious and gigantic birthday wingding that mobilized millions for a gaudy extravaganza of parades and picnics, rodeos and regattas, fireworks and other festivities too numerous to catalogue. It was an altogether fitting celebration of the 200th anniversary of America's independence, and perhaps the best part of it was that its supreme characteristics were good will, good humor and, after a long night of paralyzing self-doubt, good feelings about the U.S.
The big party officially began on northeastern Maine's Mars Hill. It was there, at 4:31 a.m., that the rays of the rising sun first struck U.S. soil on July 4, and 550 local potato farmers and tourists cheered wildly as National Guardsmen fired a 50-gun salute and raised an American flag. More than 7,500 miles west of Maine, 15,000 people—almost half the population of American Samoa —crammed into the capital, Pago Pago, for a weekend of pole climbing, dancing competitions and boat races.
So began and ended the nation's July 4 birthday party, but Bicentennial ceremonies continued through the week and will go on for some time to come. The magnificent tall ships that so enthralled New Yorkers raised anchor and headed toward more than a dozen cities, including Boston, Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles. Ten U.S. cities played host to Queen Elizabeth II, blood descendant of the last British monarch to reign over the colonies. Elsewhere, Revolutionary War battles and other historic events will be commemorated through the rest of the year.
Still, no one day is likely to match the fabulous Fourth. On the eve of the holiday, President Ford urged Americans to "break out the flag, strike up the band, light up the sky." They did all that, with gusto (see color pages). On the big day itself, Ford set the tone at Philadelphia's Independence Hall, where representatives of the 13 colonies signed the Declaration in 1776. Said he: "Liberty is a living flame to be fed, not dead ashes to be revered."
Americans, who still pride themselves on producing the biggest and the best, made it a day of superlatives: the largest cherry pie (60 sq. ft.), in George, Wash.; the biggest firecracker (a 165-lb. skyrocket), in Vancouver, Wash.; the most mammoth fireworks display (33½ tons), in Washington, D.C.; and the biggest crowd (7 million), in New York City.
The most spectacular event was the gathering at New York of 212 sailing ships from 34 nations, including 16 of the world's largest windjammers. Led by the Coast Guard training ship Eagle, the armada glided past an honor guard of warships in the harbor and up the Hudson River. By Coast Guard estimate, some 30,000 small boats, ranging from 90-ft. yachts to dinghies and kayaks, maneuvered for a view in the crowded waters. Aboard the 80,000-ton aircraft carrier U.S.S. Forrestal, host ship for the nautical review, a radar operator stared at his screen in disbelief. Said he: "It looks like it's broken out with measles."