TIME TO CELEBRATE THE INDEPENDENCE OF AMERICA!  FOR MOST ITS A TIME OF FAMILY PARTIES, COOKOUTS AND FIREWORKS.

WHEN I WAS A BOY, FIREWORKS WERE NOT ILLEGAL.  EVERY YEAR WE WOULD ORDER OUR "YOUNG AMERICA" ASSORTMENT FROM SPENCER FIREWORKS COMPANY IN POLK OHIO.  THERE WAS AN ANXIOUS TIME OF WAITING UNTIL THE RAILWAY EXPRESS OFFICE NOTIFIED US THAT OUR SHIPMENT WAS IN.  THE FAMILY CONTRIBUTED TO THE PURCHASE ($5.95).  WE GOT TOGETHER FOURTH OF JULY NIGHT FOR THE FESTIVITIES.  WE WOULD ORDER A FEW EXTRA OF THE "SLEDGEHAMMERS" NOW KNOWN AS THE M-80'S. MY DAD WANTED TO PUT ONE IN OUR MAILBOX, BUT MY UNCLE SUGGESTED PUTTING IT ON TOP OF THE MAILBOX.  IT BLEW A HOLE IN THE MAILBOX, I COULD PUT MY FIST THROUGH.  THE REST WAS ROMAN CANDLES, SKY ROCKETS AND LESS POWERFUL EXPLOSIVES THAT WERE SPECTACULAR AND NOISY. IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO CELEBRATE AND NO BODY GOT HURT EXCEPT THE MAILBOX.  OF COURSE IT WAS ALL DONE UNDER PARENTAL SUPERVISION AND WE HAD A NICE OPEN AREA FOR THE DISPLAY.  

NOW WE WATCH THE PUBLIC DISPLAYS WITH A BIG CROWD AND MORE SPECTACULAR FIREWORKS.  ITS SAFER AND DAD WON'T HAVE TO PUT UP A NEW MAILBOX.   

HAVE A HAPPY FOURTH AND REMEMBER THOSE WHO DIED TO GIVE US THIS DAY TO CELEBRATE OUR FREEDOM.