State celebrates Fourth amid strong patriotism, increased security

Posted 7:50AM on Friday 5th July 2002 ( 22 years ago )

ATLANTA - All around the state, Georgians celebrated the country's Independence Day with road races, parades, family picnics, concerts and fireworks. Heightened concerns about possible terrorist attacks meant increased security at some events, but people seemed more focused on having fun and feeling proud of their country. Atlanta offered some of the state's largest celebrations of the holiday, from the annual Peachtree Road Race to fireworks at Lenox Square. The race, which winds 6.2 miles through midtown Atlanta, attracted 55,000 participants, making it the country's biggest 10K race. Runners from Kenya took top honors. Paul Kosgei won the men's division with a time of 27 minutes, 36 seconds. Lornah Kipligat won the women's division for the third consecutive year, clocking in at 30 minutes, 58 seconds. As in years past, many runners and spectators wore stars-and-stripes or red-white-and-blue clothing. Opinion differed on whether the patriotic display was greater this year than usual. Scott Merritt, who drove in from nearby Cumming with his wife, Kelly, and their three daughters, said he usually runs the race. A broken foot kept him in the cheering section this year. ``You always see people wearing flag shorts or T-shirts,'' Merritt said. ``But I would guess that there's even more of that this year than before, because of 9-11. I think people are feeling more patriotic.'' Merritt said rumors of possible terrorist attacks on July 4th events didn't concern him, or make his family reconsider coming to watch the race. ``I'm not really worried about that,'' he said. ``Maybe if we were in a stadium or someplace like that. But I doubt it.'' Worries did not keep Roxie Bushby of Silver Spring, Md., from taking in a midday parade through downtown, sponsored by WSB-TV. Bushby and family members already had watched the race and planned to attend fireworks in the evening. ``We are just ready to enjoy this day,'' she said. The parade included more than 45,000 participants, about two dozen floats and 13 bands, according to producer Hobie Pileski. Grand Marshal Daniel Rodriguez, a New York City policeman and tenor, sang ``America the Beautiful'' to kick off the procession. Savannah was planning a fireworks display, capping its Festive Fourth on the River. Nearby Fort Stewart and Fort McAllister offered food, music and a re-enactment of a civil war battle. Along the coast, fireworks displays were planned for St. Marys, St. Simons and Brunswick. All three cities also organized parades, road races or festivals. In north Georgia, between 15,000 and 20,000 people were expected to attend Dalton's festivities, said Heather Cook of the Parks and Recreation Department. Baseball games, a carnival and swimming pool promised to keep people busy until fireworks began. Officials in Albany said they hoped a public fireworks show at Festival Park would deter any who would break a state ban on fireworks, but Dougherty County Sheriff's deputies would be on the lookout. The weather cooperated with organizers of most events. Runners in the Peachtree Road Race, for example, got their start in surprisingly cool morning temperatures and fairly low humidity.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/7/192804