People all across eastern Carolina celebrated our nations 232nd birthday Friday with cookouts, a day at the beach, or just spending time with family and friends.

Many capped off the day with fireworks, including in Greenville.

Thousands took the lawns of the Greenville Town Common to celebrate Independence. David Millette said along with the fun and fireworks, the meaning of the day was not lost. "To be able to express my freedoms freely and live the way I want to live means the world to me. And to be able to support other people who do it like support the armed forces and stuff. And to just be out in the community."

Once the sun began to fade eyes turned to the skies to see the fireworks and listen to the sounds of freedom.