+----------------------------+------------------+---+-------------------+
| National Park Service      | National Capital |   | Department of the |
|                            | Region           |   | Interior          |
| U.S. Department of the     |                  |   |                   |
| Interior                   | Office of        |   | National Park     |
|                            | Communications   |   | Service           |
|                            |                  |   |                   |
|                            | Washington, D.C. |   | 1100 Ohio Drive,  |
|                            |                  |   | S.W.              |
|                            | Use the complete |   |                   |
|                            | site name here   |   | Washington, D.C.  |
|                            | (e.g. Palo Alto  |   | 20242             |
|                            | Battlefield      |   |                   |
|                            | Historic Site).  |   | 2026197400      |
|                            |                  |   | phone             |
|                            |                  |   |                   |
|                            |                  |   | 2026197302 fax  |
+----------------------------+------------------+---+-------------------+

![](media/image1.png){width="0.5597222222222222in"
height="0.7201388888888889in"}

**Office of Communications** News Release

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  Use a "short-hand" version of the site name here (e.g. Palo Alto
  Battlefield not Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Site).

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

**For Immediate Release**: **June 29, 2005**

[Contact]{.underline}: Bill Line, Toni Braxton, Terry Adams, Margie
Ortiz \-- 202 619-7400

### National Park Service helps celebrate 229 Years of Democracy with Parade, Music and Fireworks 

Washington, D.C. \-- The National Park Service (NPS) announces the 2005
annual Independence Day celebration of our nation\'s founding,
continuing the tradition of day-long activities for all ages, with
events designed to highlight freedom and diversity that will include a
parade, the Folklife Festival, concerts, and fireworks, all taking place
on and near national park land in the heart of the nation\'s capital.

This year visitors will once more be able to enjoy viewing the July
4^th^ activities from the newly reconstructed Washington Monument
grounds. The improved grounds include new walkways that are now ADA
compliant, new monument lighting system, new plaza area and a new
security barrier system that is built into the landscape to allow
traditional use of the grounds. The 55- acre grounds have been resodded
and the majority of the grounds will be available to the public. A few
areas will remain closed to allow the sod to fully knit to the ground.

The NPS\' \"America\'s 2005 Independence Day Parade\" kicks off the
day's events at 11:45 a.m., with the parade lasting approximately two
hours. The parade proceeds westward on Constitution Avenue starting at
7^th^ Street and ending at 17^th^ Street. Viewing areas for this
traditional July 4^th^ parade will be available along Constitution
Avenue. Over 3,000 parade participants will include marching bands,
floats, and military units marking the 229^th^ anniversary of our
nation\'s independence.

At 4:00 p.m., the NPS\' Independence Day Concert begins at the same
location as last year, on the southwest corner of the Washington
Monument grounds, near the intersection of 17^th^ Street and
Independence Avenue, SW. Guest artists include **The United States Navy
Band** with Special Guest Artist **Kathy Mattea.**

National Mall & Memorial Parks' Rangers will present Living History
vignettes, at 5:00 p.m., **"Why I signed the Declaration of
Independence"** and at 6:00 p.m., **"Freedom's Drum: The Enlistment of
Drummer Jackson,"** located on stage at the Washington Monument grounds.
There will also be ten soldiers of the 54^th^ Massachusetts Infantry on
Civil War recruiting duty interpreting the African-American Civil War
experience in the light of the theme **"Let Freedom Ring"** located at
14^th^ Street and Independence Avenue bounded by Jefferson Drive.

NPS Rangers continue to organize a substantial effort to prevent
excessive litter on the National Mall grounds. In order to accomplish
this, Rangers and volunteers will be collecting and separating plastic
bottles and aluminum cans from cardboard recycling boxes placed
throughout the National Mall. It is expected this effort will reduce
substantially the amount of trash and help the National Mall & Memorial
Parks in its recycling efforts for 2005.

-more-

Page 2

The 39^th^ annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival, co-sponsored by the
NPS, continues its run on the National Mall from **11:00 a.m. to 5:30
p.m**. between 7^th^ and 14^th^ Streets. Evening performances are from
5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This year\'s festival will celebrate the living
tradition cultures of **Oman: Desert, Oasis, and Sea, "Nuestra Música,"
Music in the Latino Culture, Food Culture USA, Forest Service, Culture,
and Community.**

The 2005 Smithsonian Folklife Festival program on **Oman** will feature
over 100 musicians, dancers, craftspeople and cooks representing
cultural traditions from the desert, oases and sea. **Nuestra Música:
Music in Latino Culture** is a four-year program that explores and
celebrates the rich and diverse Latino culture in the United States and
abroad. The focus in 2005, the program's second year, is "Music Builds
Community**." Food Culture USA** celebrates the extraordinary story of
the American food revolution of the last 40 years. Visitors will learn
about the artisan food trend that has revitalized older crafts to
produce cheese, bread, olives, chocolate and much more. **Forest
Service, Culture, and Community** showcases the occupational traditions
of the USDA Forest Service on the occasion of its 100^th^ anniversary.
Visitors will engage in educational activities, crafts, demonstrations
and discussions that will increase their understanding and appreciation
of our nation's natural resources and those who care for them.

\"A Capital Fourth 2005\" concert, featuring the National Symphony
Orchestra (NSO), begins at 8:00 p.m. on the west lawn of the U.S.
Capitol. The concert is free and is presented by the NPS and its
producer, Capital Concerts, Inc. Joining host and veteran actor **Barry
Bostwick** are Grammy award-winning Latin music star **Gloria Estefan**;
first time performing for the July 4^th^ celebration on the National
Mall since 1985, the iconic pop group **The Beach Boys**, recent Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees **The O'Jays**; Emmy and Golden Globe
award-winning actor **Jimmy Smits;** Emmy nominated actress **Sharon
Lawrence**, recently seen in the hit series "Desperate Housewives";
renowned tenor **Ronan Tynan**; Billboard chart-topping classical
crossover artists **Il Divo**; and "American Idol's" **Kimberley
Locke.**

The show will be capped off by a rousing rendition of Tchaikovsky's
"1812 Overture" complete with live canon fire provided by the United
States Army Salute Battery. The works of **John Williams** will also be
featured during this concert in a salute to the music of "Stars Wars"
performed by the **National Symphony Orchestra** and directed by
Conductor **Erich Kunzel** in a 90-minute concert to be broadcast live
on both National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting System
(PBS).

Public access to the U.S. Capitol grounds begins at 2:30 p.m., with
security clearance required of all visitors. No alcohol or glass
containers are allowed. The NPS will provide bottled water to visitors
to the U.S. Capitol grounds. NPS volunteers, along with the Girl Scouts,
will help with recycling.

The day concludes with the traditional NPS fireworks beginning at 9:10
p.m. and lasting until 9:30 p.m. Pyro Shows, Inc. of LaFollette,
Tennessee, will produce this year's 20-minute National Park Service
Independence Day fireworks display. The rain date for the NPS fireworks
display is Tuesday, July 5.

In addition to the Washington Monument grounds and other areas within
the National Mall, popular gathering spots to view the fireworks include
East and West Potomac Parks, the Ellipse, Capital Hill, Anacostia Park,
the Marine Corps (Iwo Jima) Memorial and along the George Washington
Memorial Parkway across the Potomac River in Virginia.

-more-

Page 3

The NPS strongly urges the use of public transportation, as parking in
or near the National Mall & Memorial Parks is
**[extremely]{.underline}** limited. The NPS, in conjunction with the
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), recommend the
following Metrorail stations be used: Arlington National Cemetery,
Rosslyn, Pentagon, Foggy Bottom, Farragut West, McPherson Square,
Federal Triangle, Metro Center, Gallery Place-Chinatown, Capitol South,
L\'Enfant Plaza, Federal Center SW, Archives-Navy Memorial, Judiciary
Square and Union Station. As with previous July 4^th^ celebrations, the
Smithsonian Metrorail station will be closed all day July 4th. Metro's
planned hours of operation on July 4^th^ are from 7:00 a.m. to 12
midnight. For more information, please visit:
[metroopensdoors.com]{.underline}.

As in previous years, the Safety Zone surrounding the fireworks site
will be established to ensure visitors are kept a safe distance from any
fireworks debris. Since this traditional safety zone encompasses the
World War II Memorial, it will close to visitors on July 4^th^ at 4:00
p.m. to ensure the public's safety, but also to protect the World War II
Memorial from potential damage. The NPS will place protective material
within the World War II Memorial on the morning of July 4^th^ to prevent
damage to any features of that memorial. Cleanup of the World War II
Memorial will begin immediately following the conclusion of the
fireworks show. The World War II Memorial will open as soon as this
cleanup is complete, which will be no later than the morning of July
6^th^.

This year, as in all previous years, safety and security are and remain
the NPS\' top priorities.

In order to ensure the same level of public safety and security as last
year, the United States Park

Police will again establish check points at various locations where all
persons must enter the

National Mall. (Please see a list of all 18 check points and road
closures below). All coolers, backpacks, packages and persons will be
subject to inspection. Possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages
and possession of glass bottles, fireworks and the use of personal
grills are prohibited on the National Mall grounds and all surrounding
federal lands, including the Ellipse and the Anacostia and Potomac
shorelines.

Due to limited viewing space on the Washington Monument grounds,
visitors are asked **[not]{.underline}** to plan active recreational
activities (i.e. volleyball, badminton, frisbee, etc.), and are also
asked to **[not]{.underline}** erect canopies or tents since those items
would be disruptive to other visitors' ability to enjoy the concert and
fireworks.

The NPS, along with the Public Health Service, will operate eight First
Aid/Medical tents at various locations within the National Mall &
Memorial Parks. These tents will be staffed with medically-trained
personnel and include ice and First Aid supplies. Each First Aid/Medical
tent will have a flag that easily identifies the tent as such.

Tourmobile will not operate any tours on July 4^th^. Tourmobile will
resume tour operations on July 5^th^. The NPS' concessionaire, Guest
Services, Inc., will have food and refreshments available for purchase
at various locations within the National Mall & Memorial Parks.

As always, visitors are encouraged to bring sun screen and plenty of
water with them for their visit.

**[In Virginia]{.underline}**, the George Washington Memorial Parkway
will provide Information and First Aid tents along the Parkway near
popular locations for viewing fireworks. These include: the U.S. Marine
Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Statue) and Netherlands Carillon, just
south of Memorial Circle, Lady Bird Johnson Park at Columbia Island,
near the Navy and Marine Memorial and Gravelly Point. For more
information about specific fireworks viewing sites along the George
Washington Memorial Parkway, please call 703-289-2552.

-more-

Page 4

Free, but [extremely limited]{.underline} parking will be available at
Gravelly Point and along portions of the George Washington Memorial
Parkway on a first-come, first-served basis. Recreational Vehicles (RVs)
and trailers **[must]{.underline}** park at Gravelly Point. The NPS
strongly recommends visitors use public transportation and walk to park
sites in Northern Virginia. The Rosslyn, Arlington National Cemetery and
Pentagon Metro stations provide access to George Washington Memorial
Parkway viewing locations. Fort Hunt Park (located six miles south of
Old Town Alexandria) will be open for picnicking, with no permits
necessary, on July 4.

From 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on July 4^th^, the George Washington
Memorial Parkway will sponsor a concert at the Netherlands Carillon.
Located next to the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Statue) in
Arlington, VA, visitors will be able to watch and listen to trained
carillonneurs play the Carillon's bells.

From 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Park Rangers
will provide 30-minute interpretive programs at the U.S. Marine Corps
War Memorial in honor of the 60^th^ Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo
Jima.

Parking for the general public will be available at the Pentagon on the
north lot and south lot (rows 27-36). Additional parking will be allowed
along Eads, Hayes and Fern Streets for Metro users.

For public safety reasons, **[no]{.underline}** personal grills, glass
bottles or fireworks will be allowed in areas along the George
Washington Memorial Parkway between Key Bridge and Daingerfield Island
during the July 4^th^ holiday. The ban on grills also includes the U.S.
Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima statue) and the Netherlands Carillon
grounds.

**[National Mall & Memorial Parks Entry Check Points]{.underline}:**

**(The general public will be able to access the Mall beginning at 10:00
a.m. on July 4^th^):**

-   West entrance, or George Washington Memorial Parkway side, of
    Memorial Bridge;

-   Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway, immediately south of Theodore
    Roosevelt Bridge;

-   Constitution Avenue and 23^rd^ Street;

-   Constitution Avenue and 21^st^ Street;

-   Constitution Avenue and 17^th^ Street;

-   Constitution Avenue and 15^th^ Street;

-   Constitution Avenue and 12^th^ Street;

-   Constitution Avenue and 7^th^ Street;

-   Madison Drive and 4^th^ Street;

-   Pennsylvania Avenue and 3^rd^ Street;

-   Maryland Avenue and 3^rd^ Street;

-   Independence Avenue and 4^th^ Street;

-   Independence Avenue and 7^th^ Street;

-   Independence Avenue and 12^th^ Street;

-   14^th^ Street, just south of Madison Drive;

-   Maine Avenue and Raoul Wallenberg Place (i.e. 15^th^ Street);

-   East Basin Drive, just south of the Jefferson Memorial; and

-   East Basin Drive, just south of the Inlet Bridge.

-more-

Page 5

**[Road Closures from 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. July
4^th^:]{.underline}**

-   3^rd^ Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Maryland Avenue.

**[Virginia Road Closures from 6:00 a.m. to midnight July
4^th^]{.underline}:**

-   Ramps from Route 110 to Memorial Avenue (however, access is allowed
    to Arlington National Cemetery);

-   Memorial Bridge and Memorial Circle;

-   Eastbound Route 50 ramps to the George Washington Memorial Parkway
    will be closed beginning at 3:00 p.m. to midnight.

**[Road Closures from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. July 4^th^:]{.underline}**

-   Memorial Bridge to Memorial Circle on the Virginia end of the
    bridge;

-   Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway south of Virginia Avenue to Lincoln
    Circle Drive, including all approaches and ramps;

-   I-66 in the District, just south of the Kennedy Center;

-   Lincoln Circle Drive and all approaches and ramps into and out of
    Lincoln Circle Drive, including Henry Bacon Drive and Daniel French
    Drive;

-   Constitution Avenue ramp off of Eastbound I-66 in the District;

-   Constitution Avenue from 23^rd^ Street to 15^th^ Street;

-   22^nd^ Street, 21^st^ Street, 20^th^ Street and 19^th^ Street
    between Constitution Avenue and C Street;

-   18^th^ Street between Constitution Avenue and Virginia Avenue;

-   Virginia Avenue between Constitution Avenue and 18^th^ Street;

-   17^th^ Street from E Street south to Independence Avenue;

-   C and D Streets from 17^th^ to 18^th^ Streets;

-   15^th^ Street, NW from E Street, NW south to Maine Avenue, SW;

-   Independence Avenue west of 14^th^ to 23^rd^ Street, including its
    merge with Rock Creek Pkwy;

-   Madison Drive from 15^th^ Street to 3^rd^ Street;

-   Jefferson Drive from 15^th^ Street to 3^rd^ Street;

-   7^th^ Street between Constitution Avenue and Independence Avenue;

-   4^th^ Street between Constitution Avenue and Independence Avenue;

-   Ohio Drive, SW from the Inlet Bridge to Independence Avenue;

-   West Basin Drive, SW from Ohio Drive, SW to Independence Avenue, SW.

-   Inbound traffic on I-66 will be directed to the "E" Street
    Expressway.

**--NPS-**