Wawa Welcomes America's 234th Birthday in Philadelphia

Enjoy the images of the positive patriotic fun enjoyed by Philadelphia residents and visitors during the Independence Day weekend as a part of the 2010 Wawa Welcome America celebration. Throughout the weekend, thousands attended the Independence Day Parade in historic Philadelphia and the "Life, Liberty and You Concert" and fireworks on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Mayor Michael Nutter addresses the crowd at a "Celebration of Freedom" at Independence Hall to kick off the July 4th festivities.

Betsy Ross sews together “Old Glory” in a horse drawn carriage during the Independence Day Parade in historic Philadelphia.

Marines march with a proud display of the American flag.

Miss America Caressa Cameron attends the parade atop a float accompanied by members of the United States Armed Forces.

Historic re-enactors march in celebration of Independence Day.

Philadelphia’s famous Mummers joined the July 4th festivities.

The Goo Goo Dolls and The Roots perform in front of thousands of excited fans at Wawa Welcome America’s "Life, Liberty and You Concert" on the Parkway.

Fireworks mark the grand finale to Wawa Welcome America's celebration of America’s 234th birthday.

- Writer: Amanda Rittenhouse, Photographer: Lisa Simon

Picture the Liberty Bell at Philadelphia International Airport

This morning as part of Wawa Welcome America (from l. to r.,) Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Philadelphia International Airport CEO Mark Gale and Curator Lee Douglas unveil “Picturing Liberty: Philadelphia’s Legendary Bell,” a photography exhibit.

Now the more than 2 million visitors who travel through the Airport annually will be treated to positive images of Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell, if they happen to be in Terminal A East. Nutter told the crowd at the unveiling, “We actually own this!” (the Bell.) The exhibit features 50 black and white photos of “a most celebrated icon,” that’s “considered one of the world’s sacred relics.” The Liberty Bell arrived in Philadelphia on September 1, 1752. Two hundred and fifty eight years later, it is an enduring symbol of liberty, one that will be celebrated often this holiday weekend.

- Lisa Simon, Photographer and Writer

Look-A-Likes Throw Gloves into Ring for Year's Supply of Hoagies

Nearly thirty Rocky Balboa look-alikes put their best gloves forward at the Wawa Welcome America Rocky Look-Alike contest on Wednesday, June 30. The contest took place at the famous Rocky steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Rocky contenders were requested to provide vocal and physical impressions of the boxer and run up the art museum steps “Italian Stallion” style.

As the sun set on the museum, the winner of the match, pictured in red next to Rocky movie actor James Binns, celebrated his win of a year’s supply of Wawa hoagies. Afterwards, hundreds of attendees gathered on the art museum stairs and enjoyed an outdoor “Philly @ the Movies” screening of Rocky as a positive ending to the month of June.

-Photographer: Lisa Simon. Writer: Amanda Rittenhouse.