US celebrates Independence Day

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - Americans celebrated Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, with patriotic fervor and festivities across the nation on Tuesday.

The annual occasion is marked by a variety of activities including parades, fireworks displays, barbecues and family gatherings.

"Today, we celebrate our independence. We celebrate our liberty and our freedom," said President Joe Biden while meeting military families at the White House.

"As we remember the extraordinary country this is, I hope we all rededicate ourselves to the essential work of our democracy, which is to unify this nation, to see each other not as adversaries but as fellow Americans," he added.

The holiday commemorates the country's declaration of independence from British rule in 1776.