Max
07-05-2003, 12:16 PM
Nashville celebrates with the nation
By IAN DEMSKY
Staff Writer
Downtown festivities entertain thousands
The throng of colors, thousands of faces, shouted conversations, street singers, guitar pickers and revelers who flowed down Broadway and along the Cumberland River last night were almost a poem, an ode to Nashville's diversity, energy and spirit.
Above, fireworks blossomed like flowers pulled through a complete life cycle by the crowd's enthusiasm.
On the country's 227th birthday, Tawanda Parker, 37, rode the bus downtown and sat in her wheelchair selling hand-knitted beverage coasters for $2.
''I just love the fireworks,'' she said. ''They're so pretty.''
Parker was shot during a carjacking in 1996 and suffered a spinal cord injury. After living in a nursing home, she said, being able to live on her own gave Independence Day a special meaning for her.
''It means more than you can know to be independent. Everybody should be independent and free.''
She said selling the coasters allowed her to buy extras, ''like medicine my insurance doesn't cover - and deodorant.''
Lower Broadway was blocked off and filled with activities in which folks could battle with padded pugil sticks, scale a fake rock wall or rocket towards the sky in a bungee harness.
Music from the evening's entertainment throbbed through the 95-degree air like a living pulse. The music acts in Riverfront Park offered something for almost everyone and included soul singer Al Green, country star Lee Ann Womack, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and the Fisk Jubilee Singers.
Nashville resident Charlie Martin said that for him, the event was about people-watching.
''See those people over there,'' he said, pointing to a man dressed in white and blue accompanied by a woman in red. ''Or there,'' he said, and pointed to a girl whose arms were covered in tattoos. ''The variety of people really brings you back to reality.''
Martin's friends asked him to come to smaller fireworks events in neighboring cities, but he said he wanted to be in the crowd.
''It's all about the freedom to make your own choices.''
http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/03/07/35499977.shtml?Element_ID=35499977
By IAN DEMSKY
Staff Writer
Downtown festivities entertain thousands
The throng of colors, thousands of faces, shouted conversations, street singers, guitar pickers and revelers who flowed down Broadway and along the Cumberland River last night were almost a poem, an ode to Nashville's diversity, energy and spirit.
Above, fireworks blossomed like flowers pulled through a complete life cycle by the crowd's enthusiasm.
On the country's 227th birthday, Tawanda Parker, 37, rode the bus downtown and sat in her wheelchair selling hand-knitted beverage coasters for $2.
''I just love the fireworks,'' she said. ''They're so pretty.''
Parker was shot during a carjacking in 1996 and suffered a spinal cord injury. After living in a nursing home, she said, being able to live on her own gave Independence Day a special meaning for her.
''It means more than you can know to be independent. Everybody should be independent and free.''
She said selling the coasters allowed her to buy extras, ''like medicine my insurance doesn't cover - and deodorant.''
Lower Broadway was blocked off and filled with activities in which folks could battle with padded pugil sticks, scale a fake rock wall or rocket towards the sky in a bungee harness.
Music from the evening's entertainment throbbed through the 95-degree air like a living pulse. The music acts in Riverfront Park offered something for almost everyone and included soul singer Al Green, country star Lee Ann Womack, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and the Fisk Jubilee Singers.
Nashville resident Charlie Martin said that for him, the event was about people-watching.
''See those people over there,'' he said, pointing to a man dressed in white and blue accompanied by a woman in red. ''Or there,'' he said, and pointed to a girl whose arms were covered in tattoos. ''The variety of people really brings you back to reality.''
Martin's friends asked him to come to smaller fireworks events in neighboring cities, but he said he wanted to be in the crowd.
''It's all about the freedom to make your own choices.''
http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/03/07/35499977.shtml?Element_ID=35499977