Great American 4th of July

Fred Lynch

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Cape Girardeau celebrates Independence Day with the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band, a naturalization ceremony, the 2015 Spirit of America Award and fireworks at Arena Park.

The new U.S. citizens applaud at a naturalization ceremony Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Cape Girardeau.
Ron Nall directs the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band at the Great American Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Cape Girardeau.
Members of the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band perform at the Great American Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Cape Girardeau.
Ron Nall, director of the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band, talks to band members between numbers at the Great American Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Cape Girardeau.

Members of the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band perform at the Great American Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Cape Girardeau.
Jerry Ford plays trumpet with the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band at the Great American Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Cape Girardeau.
The Cape Girardeau Municipal Band performs at the Great American Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Cape Girardeau.
U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr., left, U.S. Rep. Jason Smith and U.S. Circuit Judge Duane Benton chat before the naturalization ceremony Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)
U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. speaks to the new U.S. citizens at a naturalization ceremony Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Cape Girardeau.

U.S. Rep. Jason Smith stands with the 21 new U.S. citizens at a naturalization ceremony Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)
Clayton Hahs sings "America the Beautiful" with the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band at a naturalization ceremony Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Cape Girardeau.
U.S. Circuit Judge Duane Benton speaks to the new U.S. citizens at a naturalization ceremony Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)
The Hon. Duane Benton, circuit judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth District, speaks at the naturalization ceremony Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Cape Girardeau.
Larry Ferrell, left, assistant U.S. attorney and naturalization examiner, presents Waleed Hafez Amer of Egypt as a candidate for U.S. citizenship at a naturalization ceremony Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Cape Girardeau.
Larry Ferrell, left, assistant U.S. attorney and naturalization examiner, presents Magdalena Lidia Hink of Poland as a candidate for U.S. citizenship at a naturalization ceremony Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Cape Girardeau.
Guo Chai Feng of the People's Republic of China speaks during a naturalization ceremony Saturday, July 4, 2015 at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau.
Some of the 21 new American citizens from 14 countries recite the Oath of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony Saturday, July 4, 2015 at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)
The new U.S. citizens recite the Oath of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony Saturday, July 4, 2015 at Arena Park in Cape Girardeau.
The audience applauds the new U.S. citizens after their Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Cape Girardeau.
U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr., left, U.S. Rep Jason Smith and American Legion Post 63 commander Dennis Woeltje lead the Pledge of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Cape Girardeau.
Sandra Beatriz Paiz Alvarez of Guatemala poses for a photo after receiving her certificate of citizenship at a naturalization ceremony Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Cape Girardeau.
Chigozie Thelma Emeterom of Nigeria holds her niece, Andrea Enemuo, after the naturalization ceremony Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Cape Girardeau.
Jon K. Rust, left, and Lucas Presson, right, of the Southeast Missourian present Jerry Ford with the 2015 Spirit of America Award Saturday, July 4, 2015 at Arena Park. (Fred Lynch)
Spirit of America Award recipient Jerry Ford and his wife, Margaret, pose for a photo Saturday, July 4, 2015 at Arena Park.
The Cape Girardeau Municipal Band performs "Stars and Stripes Forever" Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Cape Girardeau.
Fireworks light up the sky Saturday, July 4, 2015 over Arena Park in Cape Girardeau. (Fred Lynch)
Fireworks over Arena Park at the Great American Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Cape Girardeau.
Fireworks over Arena Park at the Great American Fourth of July celebration Saturday, July 4, 2015 in Cape Girardeau.