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D.C. Steps Up Security for Fourth of July Celebrations
Aired July 04, 2002 - 14:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: America is coming together on this first Fourth of July since September 11. Across the nation, security is at its tightest, especially in Washington, where hundreds of thousands of people will be attending festivities. Our Patty Davis is live in Washington with more, and I know already hundreds of already converged on the Mall in Washington -- Patty.
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. But there is some question about that number. It is brutally hot here in this city, and top FBI official involved in overseeing security says that the weather may be why at this point the Washington Mall really is a ghost town. Now, the Park Service is saying that it hopes that that will rebound by tonight. Hundreds of thousands, as you said, as many as 500,000 had been expected to converge here for the concert, the activities, as well as the fireworks tonight.
Now, the Fourth of July celebration is being held under intense security. There are miles of double snow fences encircling the Mall. There are 24 checkpoints that people have to go through to get access to the Mall; 2,000 police officers here, guarding and watching what's going on. The fireworks have also been under guard all week.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVIS (voice-over): As crews put the finishing touches on Washington's massive Fourth of July fireworks display, show producer Matt Shea goes over the program.
MATT SHEA: Over the past 10 months, over 30 different people, spending close to 2,000 hours have put their labor and talents into the show.
DAVIS: It took Shea six weeks to script this year's fireworks show and its special tribute called "Flight of Freedom," to those who died on September 11.
SHEA: It's five flights of shells red, white and blue that will layer across the sky, and basically it will signify patriotism. And this will be one of the first cities, and appropriately the right city to do this in.
DAVIS: The 20-minute show, set against the Washington Monument, futures 2,500 fireworks, 800 in the last 90 seconds alone. New effects include fireworks with tails of light resembling the Twin Towers.
SHEA: This system will fire the Washington, D.C. fireworks display.
DAVIS: No longer set off by hand, the computerized firing system will do all the work.
SHEA: This will be cabled through this to a network system of modules that are then wired into the fireworks shells. And they're shot off by an electric match.
DAVIS: Because of the continued threat of terrorism the 20,000 pounds of fireworks lining the Reflecting Pool have been fenced off and are under heavy guard.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DAVIS: The security, as well as the hot weather -- it's supposed to be 99 degrees today. Excuse me. Excessive heat advisory didn't stop one couple who came down here to get married today. And, in fact, Joseph DeAngelo (ph), 22 years old, and Heather Lasher (ph), 24 years old, from New Jersey -- they have just moved to Virginia -- exchanged vows here on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial just within the past hour. They say they wanted this day and this site so that they would have fireworks for their anniversary for the rest of their lives -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Well, that's one way of having a memorable Fourth of July and wedding ceremony. All right, thanks very much, Patty Davis, from the nation's capital.
Well, Washington's police command center has helped to coordinate much of today's security in the capital. Our security analyst Mike Brooks is there with more on the manpower that it takes. Hi, there.
MIKE BROOKS, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Hi, Fredricka. I'm here at the D.C. Police Department headquarters of the joint operations command center, where it's the heartbeat of what goes on in Washington, D.C. With numerous police department and other government agencies keeping an eye on what's going on. A little later on, we will be joined by D.C. Police Chief Charles Ramsey, who will ask a couple of questions of exactly what's going on today and -- and what D.C. police are doing to make sure this is going to be a safe Fourth.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks, Mike Brooks. Appreciate it.
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