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Celebrations From Around the Nation

Aired July 04, 2003 - 13:34   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, there's a lot going on this Fourth of July, concerts, contests, and celebrations from coast to coast, many of them taking place near museums and monuments.
Our own Kathleen Koch is in the middle of it all. She's on the National Mall in Washington. Our Jason Carroll on Independence Mall, and in the city celebrating the Constitution, let's go first to our nation's capital and Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, the mood here on the National Mall is very different from last year. People gathering here for the festivities, for the fireworks are much more relaxed and I would say much more apprehensive than last year.

But there is still plenty of security, have no doubt about that. There are some 1,500 officers both on horseback, on foot, more plain clothes officer than last year, some 19 security checkpoints that everyone has to go through before they can enter the mall.

But, you know, this year perhaps more than in recent years people are reflecting more than ever before on service and sacrifice and on the price paid for this freedom that we celebrate today.

We spoke earlier with a young Navy couple who was fresh back from serving in Iraq and they had a very special message to share this Independence Day.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'd say we did the right thing freeing the Iraqi people. The experience I had taking care of them and how Saddam has treated them, they don't understand freedom and the appreciation we have of the United States and they value your freedom.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would say enjoy this day because there's a lot of prices paid for this day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: Now, the enemy that everyone though is really struggling with today out here on the National Mall is the heat, incredibly oppressive and intense heat. It is predicted to reach a high of 95 degrees, though. I must admit it is better than last year. We were here, same place, same time last year and it was 98 degree with a heat index of over 100 and indeed, Kyra, life is perspective. Here in Washington we have had an incredibly wet, rainy, gray, cold spring, so I think people are ready for a day of sun and the fun here on the mall even if the sun is pretty brutal -- back to you.

PHILLIPS: Kathleen, I think we're all ready for a little sun and fun, all right.

Let's head over to Philadelphia now. Jason Carroll is standing by, Jason, same feel there?

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, things are going really well here. People in South Philadelphia have a lot to celebrate. They're opening the first museum of its kind. It's called the National Constitution Center. It is a museum dedicated to, what else, the Constitution.

However, there was a huge opening ceremony earlier today. There was an accident on stage. A huge frame used as a prop on stage fell over and injured the mayor of the city of Philadelphia as well as the president of the center Joe Torsella, as well as another bystander, but we're told now that all of their injuries were minor. Already, one of them has been released from the hospital so at least that's some positive news there.

Drama of a different kind on the inside here focused on the center. A number of exhibits have been set up. They are designed to make history fun. These are interactive exhibits.

This is one of my favorites one here, Kyra. This one is called the American National Tree. You've got a number of different faces here. I'm just going to interrupt here. If you come in the middle here, return to faces, you can click on any one of these. Let's do Larry Flynt here and find out how this person's life in some way had an effect on the Constitution.

Joining me right now is the Martin family from upstate New York interrupting their day, their Fourth of July. Tell me, kids, what do you think of the museum so far?

CONNER MARTIN, VISITING FROM NEW YORK: I think that it seems pretty interesting. It's interactive so it's not as boring as many other museums.

CARROLL: You like the interactive part then, right?

CONNER MARTIN: Yes.

CARROLL: So, mom, what about you? Did you have a tough time convincing the kids hey we're going to a museum for the Fourth of July?

CHRIS MARTIN, VISITING FROM NEW YORK: We did. Being the Fourth of July we had to twist their arm a little bit but they're having a great time. It's holding their attention all day. We've been going and they're still going strong.

CARROLL: Still going strong? Let me turn it over to dad here for a moment. What was one of your favorite parts of the museum?

KEVIN MARTIN, VISITING FROM NEW YORK: I thought that the show in the Kibble (ph) Theater was really good. It's got a lot of different types of -- it's a multi media presentation with a live speaker and I thought that was really inspiring.

CARROLL: All right.

K. MARTIN: I really enjoyed that.

CARROLL: OK, the Martin family from upstate New York, I want to thank you again for joining us on the Fourth of July.

K. MARTIN: Thank you.

CHRIS MARTIN: Thank you.

CARROLL: Happy Fourth of July to you guys. You know the motto her at this particular museum is you enter as a visitor but you leave as a citizen. They want lots of people to come on by -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Jason Carroll live from Philly at the Constitution museum there, thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired July 4, 2003 - 13:34   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, there's a lot going on this Fourth of July, concerts, contests, and celebrations from coast to coast, many of them taking place near museums and monuments.
Our own Kathleen Koch is in the middle of it all. She's on the National Mall in Washington. Our Jason Carroll on Independence Mall, and in the city celebrating the Constitution, let's go first to our nation's capital and Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, the mood here on the National Mall is very different from last year. People gathering here for the festivities, for the fireworks are much more relaxed and I would say much more apprehensive than last year.

But there is still plenty of security, have no doubt about that. There are some 1,500 officers both on horseback, on foot, more plain clothes officer than last year, some 19 security checkpoints that everyone has to go through before they can enter the mall.

But, you know, this year perhaps more than in recent years people are reflecting more than ever before on service and sacrifice and on the price paid for this freedom that we celebrate today.

We spoke earlier with a young Navy couple who was fresh back from serving in Iraq and they had a very special message to share this Independence Day.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'd say we did the right thing freeing the Iraqi people. The experience I had taking care of them and how Saddam has treated them, they don't understand freedom and the appreciation we have of the United States and they value your freedom.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would say enjoy this day because there's a lot of prices paid for this day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: Now, the enemy that everyone though is really struggling with today out here on the National Mall is the heat, incredibly oppressive and intense heat. It is predicted to reach a high of 95 degrees, though. I must admit it is better than last year. We were here, same place, same time last year and it was 98 degree with a heat index of over 100 and indeed, Kyra, life is perspective. Here in Washington we have had an incredibly wet, rainy, gray, cold spring, so I think people are ready for a day of sun and the fun here on the mall even if the sun is pretty brutal -- back to you.

PHILLIPS: Kathleen, I think we're all ready for a little sun and fun, all right.

Let's head over to Philadelphia now. Jason Carroll is standing by, Jason, same feel there?

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, things are going really well here. People in South Philadelphia have a lot to celebrate. They're opening the first museum of its kind. It's called the National Constitution Center. It is a museum dedicated to, what else, the Constitution.

However, there was a huge opening ceremony earlier today. There was an accident on stage. A huge frame used as a prop on stage fell over and injured the mayor of the city of Philadelphia as well as the president of the center Joe Torsella, as well as another bystander, but we're told now that all of their injuries were minor. Already, one of them has been released from the hospital so at least that's some positive news there.

Drama of a different kind on the inside here focused on the center. A number of exhibits have been set up. They are designed to make history fun. These are interactive exhibits.

This is one of my favorites one here, Kyra. This one is called the American National Tree. You've got a number of different faces here. I'm just going to interrupt here. If you come in the middle here, return to faces, you can click on any one of these. Let's do Larry Flynt here and find out how this person's life in some way had an effect on the Constitution.

Joining me right now is the Martin family from upstate New York interrupting their day, their Fourth of July. Tell me, kids, what do you think of the museum so far?

CONNER MARTIN, VISITING FROM NEW YORK: I think that it seems pretty interesting. It's interactive so it's not as boring as many other museums.

CARROLL: You like the interactive part then, right?

CONNER MARTIN: Yes.

CARROLL: So, mom, what about you? Did you have a tough time convincing the kids hey we're going to a museum for the Fourth of July?

CHRIS MARTIN, VISITING FROM NEW YORK: We did. Being the Fourth of July we had to twist their arm a little bit but they're having a great time. It's holding their attention all day. We've been going and they're still going strong.

CARROLL: Still going strong? Let me turn it over to dad here for a moment. What was one of your favorite parts of the museum?

KEVIN MARTIN, VISITING FROM NEW YORK: I thought that the show in the Kibble (ph) Theater was really good. It's got a lot of different types of -- it's a multi media presentation with a live speaker and I thought that was really inspiring.

CARROLL: All right.

K. MARTIN: I really enjoyed that.

CARROLL: OK, the Martin family from upstate New York, I want to thank you again for joining us on the Fourth of July.

K. MARTIN: Thank you.

CHRIS MARTIN: Thank you.

CARROLL: Happy Fourth of July to you guys. You know the motto her at this particular museum is you enter as a visitor but you leave as a citizen. They want lots of people to come on by -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Jason Carroll live from Philly at the Constitution museum there, thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com