Fourth of July 2009

Parents, children and grandparents waited in lines to play tic-tac-toe, win prizes and get some patriotic decorations Saturday at the "Fire in the Sky" celebration at Memorial Stadium. The day was capped off with a fireworks show that could be seen throughout Columbia.

For one Columbia family, the Fourth of July represents a chance to remember veterans and cherish the time they have together.

Groups were claiming prime real estate Saturday afternoon in the parking lots surrounding Memorial Stadium, preparing for lengthy festivities.

Family members gathered Saturday in Cosmo-Bethel Park for Dorothy Huddleston's 84th birthday and Independence Day festivities.

The Ricketts marked Independence Day by gathering for a meal at Cosmopolitan Park, restarting a tradition that began nearly 20 years ago.

Tell us what you're cooking and eating Saturday at ColumbiaMissourian.com or to RT@CoMissourian on Twitter.

A collection of photos from the 2009 Ashland Independence Day parade.

The fireworks, called "Run Hadji Run," included packaging that showed a bomber jet flying over a group of Arab men on camels.

Exercising rights is a personal prerogative, as symbolized by these Columbia residents who are exercising the five freedoms embodied in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights.

On the day we celebrate our independence, lets also recognize the power of the Consitution and our freedoms, which can be seen each day in the actions of our neighbors.

The Fourth of July might seem like one giant pyrotechnics display, but it symbolizes a lot more for American journalists.

City announces schedule of Independence Day closings of city offices and services.

Les Bourgeois Vineyards will host a Fourth of July celebration from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, with a free fireworks show and music by Jack Tar.

For some Columbia fireworks merchants, it's the Fourth of July year-round.

 Despite the stand's closure this year, the family plans to reopen and expand next year.

Fireworks are dangerous on many levels — especially for pets — and pet owners are encouraged to take safety measures to protect their furry friends.

If you’re looking for an Independence Day celebration, mid-Missouri has something for everyone, including traditional fireworks displays and turtle races.

The two beaches were closed in June after tests found high concentrations of E-coli.

The Rhode Island town of Bristol has the longest history in the nation of celebrating Independence Day — a history with as much controversy as proud symbolism.

With the Fourth of July just around the corner, Columbia police are reminding residents of a Columbia ordinance prohibiting fireworks inside city limits.