Elaborate fireworks displays lighted up the skies in Washington, New York and other U.S. cities Sunday night, as the nation marked its birth 234 years ago.

周日，美國歡慶第234個獨立日，精心準備的煙火表演照亮了華盛頓、紐約以及美國其他城市的夜空。

The July 4 Independence Day holiday commemorates the occasion in 1776 when the 13 original colonies declared independence from Britain during the American Revolutionary War.

1776年，在美國獨立戰(zhàn)爭中，13塊原英國殖民地宣布從英國獨立。7月4日美國獨立日就是為了紀念這一事件。

In Washington, U.S. President Barack Obama hosted about 1,200 military personnel and their families at the White House for a barbecue, concert and view of the fireworks. ?

華盛頓，美國總統(tǒng)奧巴馬在白宮邀請1，200名軍職人員及其家屬赴宴，參加音樂會，觀賞焰火。

Throughout the country, Americans attended barbecues, parades and other events as they observed Independence Day.? Festivities took place in such cities as Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, and in Washington.

全美市民通過酒宴，游行以及其他慶?；顒觼砑o念美國獨立日。費城（1776年7月4日，獨立宣言在費城和華盛頓被通過）也舉行了歡慶活動。

In the nation's capital, actors portraying America's founders re-enacted the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

在華盛頓，演員們扮演美國的開國元勛，再現(xiàn)了簽署獨立宣言的那一幕。

In Mount Vernon, Virginia, home of the first U.S. president, George Washington, organizers hosted a wreath-laying at Washington's tomb and a naturalization ceremony for about 100 new U.S. citizens.

在美國第一任總統(tǒng)喬治華盛頓的家鄉(xiāng)，弗吉尼亞州的弗農(nóng)山，在組織者的帶領下，人們在華盛頓的墓前敬獻花圈，并為大約100名新入籍的美國市民舉行了入籍儀式。

President Obama issued an Independence Day statement saying the tenacity, resolve and courage of the nation's founders, in the face of seemingly impossible odds, became the bedrock of the country.

美國總統(tǒng)奧巴馬就獨立日發(fā)表了講話，他說，正式憑借著韌性，決心和勇氣，開國者們抓住了看似渺茫的機會，為美國的崛起奠定了堅實的基礎。

The president also paid tribute to the men and women of the U.S. armed forces who are serving around the world or have given their lives in the line of duty.

此外，奧巴馬還對在世界各地服役的，以及在執(zhí)行任務中犧牲的軍人們表示敬意。

Notes:
American Revolutionary War: 美國革命戰(zhàn)爭（又作Revolutionary War，或者American Revolution）。即美國獨立戰(zhàn)爭（American War of Independence）。

pay tribute to: 對 ... 表示贊賞或敬意

in the line of duty: 在執(zhí)勤時
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