Fireworks displays help our communities celebrate our nation’s independence
Cancellation of the July 4th fireworks celebration in Elk River raised questions in that community about the value of having fireworks to celebrate the nation’s independence.
The Elk River Chamber of Commerce, sponsor of the celebration for years, decided not to sponsor the July 4th celebration this year due to the rising costs and the major effort required.
The City of Elk River, citing revenue problems, said it would contribute $6,000 for fireworks, but could not afford the full cost.
A lake homeowners association raised $10,000 but was told to raise another $12,000 to pay for the extra costs in supervising the traffic, and so the fireworks were cancelled.
Most communities in the area, however, met the revenue challenge and displayed fireworks on the nation’s Independence Day.
Residents of Elk River since have had differing views on the need to have fireworks celebration during these difficult economic times. Some say that money for fireworks should be used to help people in need such as the food shelves. Others say the city has had fireworks for many years and it’s a letdown particularly to youngsters to not have the pyrotechnics.
To put this in context, the celebration in Elk River as well as many other communities, was more than just having fireworks. It was a community celebration at the park with organizations selling food, a carnival, a water show, music, special events for the young people and swimming and picnicking in the park.
The value was in bringing people together, working together, playing together, leading together, and celebrating the nation’s birthday together.
The Oliver Kelley Farm, a living history farm in Elk River, had its annual July 4th celebration and the reading of the Farmers Declaration of Independence. Throughout Elk River around 10 p.m., neighborhood fireworks were ignited to celebrate the nation’s birthday.
Mayor Stephanie Klinzing, noting that the city had nothing to do with the fireworks cancellation, said she has a deep appreciation for the freedom we enjoy as citizens of the greatest country in the world – the United States of America. “I will celebrate Independence Day this year, just as I have in past years in that spirit,” Mayor Klinzing said.
We salute leaders and community volunteers, who despite rough economic times, carried out a community celebration of the Nation’s birthday.
Emphasis on having a fireworks to celebrate July 4th, it can be argued, detracts from the real reason to celebrate the Declaration of Independence. Reading, meditating and appreciating the Declaration, passed on July 2d, 1776, by the Congress may be the best way to celebrate the national birthday.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
At the same time, having fireworks meets the wish of John Adams, one of the signers of the Declaration, who wrote to his wife, “It (the signing of the declaration of independence) ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward for ever more.”
In that spirit, fireworks displays from the Nation’s Capitol on down to local communities have lit up the sky in a salute to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Declaring independence from England was worth fighting for and it’s worth celebrating with some kind of fireworks.
