BOSTON (AP) – Tracy Silva has been singing for years, belting out gospel solos in church, performing show tunes in community theater, bursting into song at work as she drives special needs children to school in a van.

The 36-year-old mother of two from Taunton was on the bill Sunday for a much bigger show, Boston’s annual Fourth of July Pops concert and fireworks display.

“It’s just a dream,” Silva said in an interview a few hours before her nighttime performance in front of a crowd of hundreds of thousands – and an even larger television audience.

Silva, who normally spends Sunday nights singing karaoke with friends, earned the spot by winning the Pops’ first talent competition, the POP-Search 2004 contest, against more than 700 other singers. For Silva, the competition was a way to explore her long-dormant curiosity about whether to pursue singing professionally.

“A lot of people told me I should compete,” she said. “This contest just kind of gave me the push to try.”

The concert and fireworks celebration on Boston’s Esplanade was just one of many Independence Day observances held under cloudless skies across the state.

Festivities opened in Boston Sunday with a morning parade and flag-raising that also served as a sort of kickoff of a series of events leading to the Democratic National Convention July 26-29.

The annual event, which drew hundreds of people to a sun-drenched plaza in front of City Hall, was festive but also a bit somber in recognition of U.S. troops in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Let’s also take time to remember our brave men and women serving overseas,” Mayor Tom Menino said. “May they all come home safely, and soon.”

The celebration took place within sight of historic buildings including Faneuil Hall. The location held special meaning for Mark Jensen, attending with family members from Brookline.

“It does give you a special charge to come and celebrate on the streets where it all started,” said Jensen, holding the family’s pet poodle Toby, decorated with a red, white and blue bandanna.

Eris Burton, a cook and mother of four from Boston who came to the United States from her native Panama 24 years ago, departed from her routine of attending Sunday morning church services to watch the parade.

“Some of us should appreciate more what we have,” said Burton, dressed in a red, white and blue sweater.

Silva, the singer from Taunton, won the Pops’ competition on Tuesday night after a performing “Fools Fall in Love” from the Broadway musical “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” in the final round at Symphony Hall.

On Sunday night, she planned to sing her favorite song, “Your Daddy’s Son,” from the musical “Ragtime,” backed up by the Pops orchestra and conductor Keith Lockhart for the concert on the Esplanade.

“The way the Boston Pops has treated me, it’s been so wonderful,” she said. “They’ve just treated me like a queen.”

In addition to driving a van for special-needs children, Silva is active in community theater and sings with the Brockton Assembly of God Church.

Silva said the Pops have approached her about singing at another concert this summer. She said she would talk with her husband and their children, an 18-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter, about whether she should consider making a career out of music.

Her mother, Tricia Duarte, is encouraged by her daughter’s plans to explore how far her talent can take her.

“I think she was born to sing,” she said.

AP-ES-07-04-04 1742EDT