Have a safe and memorable Fourth of July

July 3, 2017 1:30 pm
Have a safe and memorable Fourth of July

On the Fourth of July, we celebrate more than our nation’s Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. We remember — in John Adams’ words — “the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States.”

Adams wrote those words to his wife, Abigail, after the Continental Congress voted on July 2, 1776 for independence. He continued, “Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.”

He then made this prediction: “I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

July 4 is the 241st anniversary of the Continental Congress’ issuing of the Declaration of Independence. Celebrate safely.

OK, now here’s an irony. In 2016, 227 people were injured in Washington state by personal fireworks — more than twice the number of American casualties in the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first military engagements of the Revolutionary War.

In 2016, personal fireworks caused 67 fires, resulting in $199,500 in property damage, mostly to homes and vehicles, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Instead of buying personal fireworks, enjoy a professional fireworks show in a Kitsap community near you. You can enjoy festivities leading up to the show, and you’ll be as wowed as your forebears were when Col. Thomas Crafts, one of the Sons of Liberty, lit off fireworks and shells over Boston Common to commemorate the first anniversary of independence from Great Britain.

If you do buy and light off fireworks, do so safely. Follow instructions. Have water nearby. Keep pets indoors. Be kind to the environment and clean up fireworks debris. If you buy fireworks on the Port Gamble S’Klallam or Suquamish Tribe land, those fireworks are legal only on S’Klallam or Suquamish land. Again, follow instructions, and ask the vendor for locations of safe places to enjoy your fireworks.