|
About 10:00 when it was dark, the show opened with the traditional parade of the two nation's flags. The subtle difference in this show is that the flag bearers are two helicopters, one carried the Canadian Flag and the other the US flag. Both took off from American side and presumably the Yanks provided both of the machines, which was generous of them. The first machine up waited patiently for the second machine to come into line, then the Canadian flag-bearer flew down, then up the river. Two search lights, which were on the American side did a passable job of lighting the Canadian flag as it passed. I was on the Canadian side of the river and the crowd broke into happy patriotic cheers. After the Canadian flag carrier had returned to the start line the second helicopter, with the American flag, started to fly down the river. This chopper stayed closer the Northern, American shore and the searchlights had problems picking up the flag. If there had been searchlights on the Southern Canadian shore, this would have dramatically added to the spectacle. As the second helicopter passed, the crowd around me again broke into happy patriotic cheers of equal volume, however this time the cheers were accompanied by heavy clapping. Presumably the American visitors were cheering and the Canadians clapping. Only once, have I ever heard the American flag booed. That was at a Blue Jay's game in Toronto. The previous game was held in the States and the US Marines acted as flag-bearers for the Canadian flag. Somehow, they managed to parade onto the field with the Canadian flag flown upside down on its staff. The marines did their best to rectify the insult. They attended the next game, which was in Toronto and again acted flag-bearers for the Canadian flag. The booing during the ceremony was loud and sustained. Yet at the next ball-game, all was normal with gentle cheers and polite applause, as per the Canadian custom. The fireworks started almost immediately the cheering had died down. The display was its normal aural and visual extravaganza. Almost certainly it is the world's largest and best firework display. A new record was set that evening. As of the time of writing, the fireworks display at the Freedom Festival is the most intensively photographed event in the world. On Wednesday, 19th of June, 2005, there were more cameras snapping, movies being filmed, and cell phones clicking per minute than and at any other event in history so far. The boom in the sales of digital equipment saw to this. I have friends who claim that the event is best watched from a high-rise apartment on the river front. I don't say that they are wrong, but this misses out on the heart-stopping sound of the climax. The climax of the show is both visual and aural. The intensity of noise at the end is such that your whole body vibrates in tune with the air born booms (pun intended). The best place to feel these good vibrations is directly opposite the three barges that are anchored mid river. Usually, on the Canadian side this area is the most densely crowded of all the viewing spots. This year the crowds were not so thick. One could even walk easily through the throng. This does not imply any fall in attendance compared to last year. It is just that the City has recently completed a multimillion renovation to the river wall and promenade. The new river wall has moved a dozen or so feet neared Detroit, and there is now much more room to stand and stare – or walk. There was so much room that a small band of exuberant American youth, apparently intent in some mischief, began running up and down the area. Fortunately, this threat to the stability of Canadian culture died quickly without the necessity of calling out the SWAT team. Policing this large crowd was distinctly low key. The police presence along river front was confined solely to traffic duties, and even that didn't become evident till after the fireworks were over. Many of the roads leading to the waterfront were closed to motorized vehicles to facilitate the large pedestrian traffic, but several electric scooters did manage to sneak in. I saw one man and a young child riding on one electric scooter. The child had both feet on the scooter and the man only his right foot. The pair seemed to be able to obtain the dizzying speed of about 10 clicks (6 mph). I thought it was cool. The Freedom Festival started in 1959, making the 2005 event the 47th festival. The festival spans Independence Day (4th July) and Canada Day (1st July). The highlight of the festival is the fireworks display held on the Wednesday before Canada Day (June 29th this year). It is, in fact, one of the two largest fireworks shows in North America with over 250,000 pounds of fireworks being used. Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks in New York might be bigger, but this is dubious. July 4th 1959 was the first time The Windsor Daily Star used full colour photos to cover a news event. This was the the Royal visit to Windsor by Queen Elizabeth II. Later the same year on November 7th, the name of the newspaper was shortened to The Windsor Star. On the American side of the river violence has marred the show several times, most recently last year.
In June of this year Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick threatened to cancel the fireworks celebration if 600 police officers were laid off because of budget cuts. The dispute is on hold till after the festival. According to Detroit Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings, the department's overtime costs for last year's fireworks were $312,000.
|