A New York Fire Department vessel sprays its water cannons in the New York harbor during ahead of Sail250, a gathering of tall ships and military ships honoring America's 250th Anniversary, Saturday, July 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) 05 Jul 2026 05:05AM WASHINGTON: Americans celebrated 250 years of independence Saturday (Jul 4) with conflicting emotions as pride, hope and patriotism battled with uncertainty and unease over the country's direction.On Washington's grassy National Mall, lined by monuments and museums, thousands sweltered in multiblock lines as temperatures neared 100F (38C).With National Guard troops - controversially deployed across Washington by President Donald Trump - imposing crowd control, forklifts dropped pallets of bottled water which crowds cla