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    Parking blocks away, fans marched through the cool evening air to get a seat for the Charlotte Symphony Pops "Celebrate America" concert at Symphony Park. GARY O'BRIEN - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com
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    Barclay Downs Road was closed next to Symphony Park for pedestrians to walk and children to play before the "Celebrate America" concert. GARY O'BRIEN - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com
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    The Gold Standard Chorus, a group of men singing in the barbershop harmony style opened the musical program Friday night at Symphony Park, getting the crowd warmed up for the Charlotte Symphony Pops "Celebrate America" concert. GARY O'BRIEN - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com
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    Sue Setzer plants flags around the area she and her friends had staked out on the lawn of Symphony Park before the Charlotte Symphony Pops concert. GARY O'BRIEN - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com
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    Thousands of spectators lined the slopes surrounding the bandstand at Symphony Park Friday evening before the Charlotte Symphony Pops concert. GARY O'BRIEN - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com
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    Eleanor Ward makes her way through the throng, lugging her chair and flag balloons to meet her friends on the lawn of Symphony Park, prior to Friday's Charlotte Symphony Pops concert. GARY O'BRIEN - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com
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    Thousands of spectators lined the slopes surrounding the bandstand at Symphony Park Friday evening before the Charlotte Symphony Pops concert. GARY O'BRIEN - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com
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    Thousands of spectators lined the slopes surrounding the bandstand at Symphony Park Friday evening before the Charlotte Symphony Pops concert. GARY O'BRIEN - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com
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    A wayward pair of flag balloons went skyward from Symphony Park before the concert. GARY O'BRIEN - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com
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  • http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2009/07/04/01/656-20090703_fireworks_10.standalone.prod_affiliate.138.jpg|414
    Thousands of spectators lined the slopes surrounding the bandstand at Symphony Park Friday evening before the Charlotte Symphony Pops concert. GARY O'BRIEN - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com
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  • http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2009/07/04/01/474-20090703_fireworks_11.standalone.prod_affiliate.138.jpg|434
    Seeking donations to support the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Cecilia Whalen, 9 was one of dozens of volunteers carrying around buckets and giving out stickers to those who made a donation. According to CSO spokesperson Meg Whelan ( Cecilia's mother), over $40, 000 was donated Friday night at the CSO Pops "Celebrate America" concert at Symphony Park. GARY O'BRIEN - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com
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    Roy Gordon and Gloria Moses pay respect to the flag before the "Celebrate" America" concert presented by the Charlotte Symphony Pops at Symphony Park. GARY O'BRIEN - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com
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  • http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2009/07/04/01/843-20090703_fireworks_14.standalone.prod_affiliate.138.jpg|420
    Marines of the 4th Maintenance Battalion stand down after presenting the colors Friday evening before Charlotte Symphony Pops "Celebrate America" concert at Symphony Park. GARY O'BRIEN - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com
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  • http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2009/07/04/01/120-20090703_fireworks_15.standalone.prod_affiliate.138.jpg|413
    Conductor Albert-George Schram salutes armed forces veterans in the audience before leading the Charlotte Symphony Pops orchestra in patriotic favorites, including "America the Beautiful", "Armed Forces Salute", Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture", and Sousa's "Liberty Bell March". GARY O'BRIEN - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com
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  • http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2009/07/04/01/211-20090703_fireworks_12.standalone.prod_affiliate.138.jpg|414
    Thousands of spectators lined the slopes surrounding the bandstand at Symphony Park Friday evening to listen to the Charlotte Symphony Pops concert. GARY O'BRIEN - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com
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  • http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2009/07/04/01/718-20090703_fireworks_16.standalone.prod_affiliate.138.jpg|431
    The bandshell of Symphony Park is reflected in the bell of a tuba during Charlotte Symphony Pops orchestra "Celebrate America" concert Friday evening at Symphony Park. GARY O'BRIEN - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com
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  • http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2009/07/04/01/788-20090703_fireworks_17.standalone.prod_affiliate.138.jpg|415
    Timpanist Scott Christian awaits his cue in the back row of the Charlotte Symphony Pops orchestra as night falls during Friday's concert at Symphony Park. GARY O'BRIEN - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com
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  • http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2009/07/04/01/385-20090703_fireworks_18.standalone.prod_affiliate.138.jpg|414
    The fireworks are reflected in the glasses of sound technician Al Forbes as the "Celebrate America" concert concluded with a 15-minute fireworks display. The Charlotte Symphony Pops orchestra played to a crowd of several thousand Friday evening at Symphony Park. GARY O'BRIEN - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com
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  • http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2009/07/04/01/936-20090703_fireworks_19.standalone.prod_affiliate.138.jpg|525
    Fireworks trace patterns of color above the Symphony Park bandshell af the conclusion of the Charlotte Symphony Pops orchestra "Celebrate America" concert Friday evening. GARY O'BRIEN - gobrien@charlotteobserver.com
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