The annual Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Fourth of July celebration has been canceled due to budget cuts, base officials announced today.

The celebration, which features fireworks, children's activities and food and beverages, will be canceled this year due to the Department of Defense's recent announcement that most civilian employees, who help run the event, will be furloughed beginning in July, the announcement said.

Defense is among the federal agencies hit by the across-the-board budget cuts known as the sequester.

Nationally, a number activities such as military open houses, airshows, flyovers, orientation flights, and service aerial demonstration team performances by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Army Golden Knights have been canceled due to fiscal constraints, the officials said.

In the past the event "provided the joint base with an opportunity to highlight the active-duty, reserve and guard service members of the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard who ensure total force integration by training, supporting and sustaining global contingency operations from the joint base," the announcement said.

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