Despite government warnings of the potential for a new attack, millions of people overcame their nerves and congregated at massive, traditional fireworks displays in major cities on the most patriotic date in the U.S. calendar.
But, reflecting a sometimes schizophrenic way of life that has emerged since hijacked planes slammed into U.S. landmarks and killed thousands of people, the State Department had also urged Americans worldwide to avoid crowded places because of possible suicide strikes.
At one such fireworks display in Springfield, Illinois, a Gaelic-speaking brother and sister were detained by anti-terrorist police for apparently speaking in 'code'.
Michael (20) and Sharon (23) O'Toole, of Cobh, in Cork County, Ireland, are fluent speakers of the Irish language. While on vacation from college in Ireland, they were attending the fireworks display in downtown Springfield. They were talking between themselves when FBI officials swooped.
"We were just commenting on the fireworks to each other when these guys in suits showed us their badges and swept us off. It was like something from a movie.", said Michael to reporters.
FBI anti-terrorist agents became suspicious of the pair when they noticed them alternately speaking in fluent English and a "code" language not recognised to be of Eastern or European origin. Agents had been given special training in linguistics in the weeks running up to the holiday.
The pair were released without charge, after Irish consulate officials confirmed their identities.
This story was first picked up by Gareth O'Callaghan, a 2FM radio DJ, on July 5 2002. From there the Irish Independent picked it up on their website in the Breaking News section.I heard also that the story ran in several US newspapers, but I haven't been able to confirm this yet.
Weirdest of all, it was picked up by the Irish Mirror (i.e. the Daily Mirror Irish edition, same as in the UK but with a green logo on the front page). The Mirror even managed to get some extra quotes from those affected, not included in the original press release, which is unusual, because the story is a hoax, started by some bored geeks at P45rant.