Editor sees patriotic Independence Day

September 11 'high on everybody's mind'

Mark Orwoll, managing editor of Travel and Leisure magazine

Editor's Note: CNN Access is a regular feature on CNN.com providing interviews with newsmakers from around the world.

(CNN) -- This Fourth of July promises to be a day of celebration and remembrance. As usual, fireworks will highlight many festivities, but Americans are also expected to remember the victims of September 11 on this Independence Day.

CNN Anchor Leon Harris spoke with Mark Orwoll, managing editor of Travel and Leisure magazine, about activities surrounding the nation's birthday.

LEON HARRIS: All right. Let's start off with the 9/11 remembrances. We know there are going to be plenty of those across the country.

MARK ORWOLL: It is going to be high on everybody's mind. In fact, a recent USA-Today Poll said that 35 percent of the people answering the poll are going to do something specifically to remember the victims of 9/11. This is going to be a super-patriotic day. In that same poll, 83 percent of the people who took the poll said they are going to be waving the flag. They are going to raise the flag in front of their house this year. Only 66 percent did it last year.

I don't think, as you said earlier, that not since the bicentennial have we seen something on this magnitude.

HARRIS: All right. So there will be these observances.

ORWOLL: Yes.

HARRIS: What kind of observances do you think we'll see?

ORWOLL: Well, for example, in Naperville, Illinois, at the Ribfest, they do this every Fourth of July ... Now, they are bringing in actually several New York City firefighters. They are going to be showing two spotlights as they introduce these guys, spotlights shining in remembrance of the fallen Twin Towers. It's going to be a fun event, though it's not all a somber note.

In Aspen, Colorado, they are having an old-fashioned parade down Main Street, preceded by a dog parade, 500 dogs marching past the Little Nell Resort. This is going to be -- well, I'll tell you, I wouldn't.

HARRIS: Are the 500 dogs in front or in the back of this parade?

ORWOLL: Well, I was just going to say, I don't think I'd want to follow in the footsteps of this parade, but it's going to be a lot of fun.

HARRIS: I don't think so either.

ORWOLL: In the oldest Fourth of July observance in the nation in Bristol, Rhode Island, they are going to -- it's the 217th observance. It's the Grand Military Civic and Firemen's parade. Over 200,000 people are going to be lining the streets to watch this parade.

HARRIS: Yes, as a matter of fact, I think I read something about that one as well.

ORWOLL: Yes.

HARRIS: Isn't there a link with Denmark or with some other European country with that one as well?

ORWOLL: Well, there is a celebration going on in Denmark, of all places.

HARRIS: Yes.

ORWOLL: It's in Aalborg, Denmark. They have been celebrating the American Independence Day since 1912.

HARRIS: Wow!

ORWOLL: This will be the 90th year in Aalborg, Denmark. And it's their way of saying thank you to America for making a new home for more than 300,000 Danes who have immigrated here over the years.

HARRIS: No kidding. That's not because there are that many Americans that are living in Denmark.

ORWOLL: No, no, although there are a significant number of them who will be at that celebration.

HARRIS: Yes, well, this is the celebration I've got to hear some more about: the Spam-USA.

ORWOLL: Oh, yes, yes.

HARRIS: Freedom Fest.

ORWOLL: That's right.

HARRIS: This I've got to see.

ORWOLL: Spam Town USA, that's actually Austin, Minnesota. It's the home to Hormel, which has been making Spam since 1937. They have a Spam Jam every year. This year, the observance is going to include a street dance, a firefighter's challenge, a parade, a carnival, concerts. And I have found out that the Spam Museum will not be closed on the Fourth of July. It will be open. The Spam Museum just opened in September of this past year, so a lot of people are going to want to stick their head in there and find out what's going on.

HARRIS: OK. Well, listen, if you had to pick one spot that you want to go to...

ORWOLL: Yes.

HARRIS: ... knowing what you know about all of the different celebrations there will be across the country, what's the one that you wouldn't want to miss?

ORWOLL: Well, New York City would have to be it. This is my hometown now, and obviously, people in New York have a lot to think about, a lot to be thankful for. We have certainly been brought together.

The Macy's Fireworks Spectacular this year is going to be something like the likes of which we haven't seen. Something on the order of 28,000 aerial shells are going to be exploding over four -- five different barges in the East River shooting them off. It's going to be choreographed to music, which you can get simulcast on local radio. This is truly going to be something spectacular.

HARRIS: All right. Good deal. Mark Orwoll, thank you very much -- appreciate the advice, and hope you have a happy Fourth, wherever you do go.

ORWOLL: Same to you.