A member of the George Washington Prep High School Marching Band of Los Angeles performs during the Independence Day parade in Vail, Colorado, on July 4, 2006.

Patriotic songs heard in Independence Day parades and concerts reflect U.S. history and the contributions of immigrants to the country’s diverse culture. A wide range of composers has influenced Fourth of July celebrations, but John Philip Sousa, an American composer who was the son of a Bavarian mother and Portuguese father, authored some of the most famous marches in the U.S. musical canon. Marching bands throughout the United States delight enthusiastic onlookers by performing Sousa’s famous “Stars and Stripes Forever” and “Semper Fidelis [Always Faithful].” (© AP Images)