NEW YORK: (APP) New Yorkers are celebrating July Fourth, the American Independence Day, on Monday with parades, hotdog eating contests and fireworks shows amid heightened security because of concerns about terrorism in New York.
The day marks the anniversary of the publication of the declaration of independence from Great Britain in 1776.
With the holiday taking place days after the attacks in Dhaka, Bangladesh and
Istanbul, Turkey, the New York Police Department has deployed eight new canines known as "vapour wake dogs," trained to sniff out body-worn explosives, Commissioner Bill Bratton said.
The department's human presence this holiday increased by nearly 2,000 new officers who graduated Friday from the New York City Police Academy.
"As we always have the capacity in New York to put out a lot of resources, that's the name of the game, in dealing with terrorist threats," Bratton said.
History may be in the making in the traditional hotdog-eating contest at New York's Coney Island. Joey "Jaws" Chestnut - a world record holder who ate 69 hotdogs in 10 minutes - attempts to regain his Mustard Yellow International Belt from Matt Stonie, who last year ended Chestnut's run of eight straight time Tonight, a grand fireworks display over East River will round up day-long festivities.