JOHN W. ADKISSON I The Roanoke Times

Sandra Offutt, of Charlottesville, watches fireworks explode during the Music For Americans celebration.

Photos by JOHN W. ADKISSON I The Roanoke Times

Uncle Sam welcomes American military personnel during the Music For Americans celebration of the Fourth of July on Saturday afternoon at River's Edge Park in Roanoke.

The man who looked like Captain America waited on his lawn chair for the fireworks. Andy Skirnski, a 48-year-old man of muscle with platinum blond hair, blue eyes, and stars-and-stripes shirt that covered about a third of his torso, mused about his day job making car parts for American cars and how the economy is going to kick back any day now.

"We're the most resourceful country and have the most ingenious people out there," said Skirnski, who by day makes parts for Pontiacs and Chevrolets at a factory in Daleville. "That's what we do. We're America and we're going to bounce back."

This year's Fourth of July came at a difficult time for America. The Labor Department reported an unemployment rate last week that indicated the longest recession since the 1930s has not let go. But the people celebrating the country's independence -- people such as Skirnski, who declared, "We're the greatest country on the planet, absolutely beyond none" -- will not let their optimism go.

The crowd at The Roanoke Times Music For Americans show Saturday night filled the four athletic fields at River's Edge Sports Complex. Dozens of people made public displays of affection for America. There were those with America pins on their shirts, red-white-and-blue hats.

And then there was Dan Hamrick of Southwest Roanoke, a 21-year-old student at Virginia Western Community College. He wore an Uncle Sam hat with three flags sticking out from it, painted a white star on his face, and paced the field with an inflatable hammer that read: "USA!" Strangers asked him to pose for photos. And why was he celebrating Saturday?

"Because we live in one of the best places in the world," he said. "You can do your own thing, and if you don't bother anyone, they won't bother you."

Then there were dozens of children who had their faces painted at the preshow Family Fun Zone, and asked for U.S. flags on their cheeks. One of them was Micyah Walhberg, 7, of Roanoke, a Highland Park Elementary School student. What does he love about America?

"That I have freedom," he said.

Freedom to eat as much watermelon as he can, at least. At the event's watermelon-eating contest, he devoured a slice and was the first to raise the bare rind.

He had won, and the red-white-and-blue makeup dripped down his cheek.

"Mommy, mommy, do you know where all my makeup went?" he yelled. "It went in my stomach."

A few minutes later, he walked toward the front of the lawn under the arms of his mother, Melissa. They were going to watch the 24 minutes of fireworks that organizers promised and everyone celebrating freedom awaited.