After Independence Day, the biggest annual celebration in Philadelphia might be being held today. That’s because it’s Wawa Hoagie Day, an annual celebration of the delectable combination of sliced deli meats and cheeses on a long roll that is the hoagie — please don’t call it a “hero” or a “grinder” here in the City of Brotherly Love. During the day, starting at noon, as part of this year’s Wawa Welcome America celebration, volunteers will deliver thousands — as many as 18,000 turkey hoagies organizers said — of hoagies to hungry Philadelphians at the National Constitution Center on Independence Mall. In a statement, organizers said, overall, to celebrate the day, over 150 volunteers are expected to make 30,000 shorti hoagies — 18,000 to deliver to the public and 12,000 that will be presented to PAL, Philabundance and Veterans Multi-Service Center. Also, officials said the dangerous heat expected for Wednesday has impacted the schedule of some Wawa Welcome America events. As such, the schedule for Wawa Hoagie Day will be: 11:45 a.m. – Hoagie Day begins at the National Constitution Center Noon – National anthem sung by Miss America and remarks and recognition of the USO (will be held inside the National Constitution Center) 12:30 p.m. – “Hoagies for Heroes” shorti making competition emceed by WMMR’s Preston and Casey, featuring teams of Philadelphia police officers, Philadelphia firefighters and servicemembers (will be held inside the National Constitution Center) 12:45 p.m. – Voices of Service performance (will be held inside the National Constitution Center) 1:15 p.m. – U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band performance (will be held inside the National Constitution Center) Organizers said free hoagies will be distributed free to the public starting at noon along Arch Street, between 5th and 6th streets, in Front of the National Constitution Center. For a look at more events for Wawa Welcome America — and to see how the heat could impact upcoming events — click here. This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. ...read more read less