Hundreds of people jammed Greenville High School's Tiger Stadium Friday night for Greenville's first Fourth of July celebration in recent memory, bringing back an important tradition.

The event hailed as Celebrate America 2004 was co-sponsored by the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce and Greenville Main Street.

While the events at the stadium did go on, heavy rains eventually led to the parade being cancelled beforehand.

The stadium celebration kicked off promptly at 6:30 p.m. to applause and cheering from young and old as music filled the stadium.

Families made their way around the booths and vendors, enjoying some quality family time.

The night ended with a very impressive display of fireworks that could be seen from throughout the city at different vantage points.

This was no easy event to set up and organize and to say that Mother Nature was not helpful is an understatement.

We would like to commend the sponsors, volunteers, Chamber executives and Main Street for working right up the final rocket exploded in making this event happen.

Their efforts are a testament to what can be accomplished when we pull together.

It should be a lesson that as was true in the Revolutionary War, "united we stand, divided we fall."

No one failed Friday, July 2. In fact, we didn't see anyone looking downtrodden at all.

We saw patriots.

We look forward to next year's event and can expect it to only get bigger and better.