Memories ~
From Falls Church to Kilmarnock
© 2007 Abilini's Computer Services
4th of July (1976)
As far back as I can remember, we always did something special for the 4th of
July. For many years, we (our family) would celebrate the fourth with our
neighbors in Falls Hill. Either a cookout on the street or a group congregation
to Pennsylvania Avenue, in DC, to watch fireworks, something neat always
happened on the 4th. After my parents moved from Falls Hill to the City of
Falls Church, the 4th seemed to be a quiet night, usually just watching the
fireworks on the TV.
In 1976, my parents told me that they had decided to spend July at the bay. So,
in March, I decided that this 4th of July was going to be different. I found a
catalog to a firework’s wholesaler, out of Pennsylvania. I filled in the order
form and sent them a check for around $300. A couple of weeks later, I got a
form in the mail stating that I had to submit a letter from the Kilmarnock Fire
Department, stating that it was allowed, for these items to be displayed. I like
any 17 year old, of the time, forged the document and sent it back. Three weeks
later, four huge boxes arrived via UPS. I separated the items into four main
groups and spent the next two months, taking the items down to Kilmarnock,
stowed away in my suitcase (Mom would definitely notice me packing four huge
boxes into the station wagon) this had to be done discreetly.
On the 1st of July I told mom what I was planning, and she thought long and hard
and finally said to please be very, very careful. I said I would and I proceeded
to set up the program. I picked a spot, in the front yard, that pointed the
projectiles, if any, toward the center of the creek (Dividing Creek is
approximately 3/8 of a mile wide and 12 feet deep in the middle). I built a
launching station, mounted it to the ground so it wouldn’t move. I even took
the boat out and set up cheaply made buoys (plastic milk bottles) that
identified a “no parking zone,” in case any boats came down the creek while the
show was in progress. The 4th finally arrived and with the help of my
neighbors, the show was ready to begin. At precisely 9 pm, after covering myself
with bug spray, I went out to the launching station. I set off the first of many
rockets; a highflying ear piercing screamer that ended in a big bang. If they
weren’t awake before, they were now! It was definitely the right item to start
the show. About 30 minutes into my program, a mid-sized sailboat came down the
creek and stopped right in the middle of my “no parking zone.” I yelled to the
boat and told them where they were located and asked them to move. They shouted
back “don’t worry about us, and just continue the show” (from the way they were
leaning and yelling, you could tell that they were already drunk). Both mom and
dad assured me that it was okay, and to go ahead with the show. The next item
on the agenda was a six-inch tube shell. According to the label, it was designed
to go up about four hundred feet and then burst into a red carnation display. It
was terrific! The next, to follow, was another six-inch tube - a chrysanthemum
shell, however, this one didn’t go according to plan. The shell went up, and you
could see the outside fuse burning for the display, but then it started coming
down. It detonated, approximately 20 feet above the main mast of the sailboat,
all of us were scared and shocked. Then we heard yelling from the sailboat “Do
it again, that was great! Do it again, yeah, again!” Now we knew they were
drunk. I fired the rest of the show with no other mishaps. The last item to be
fired was the largest item which the firework’s company sold; it was a massive
12-inch mortar shell. This thing stood 3 feet tall and had a 10-inch fuse. The
warning label read: Ear protection required. I lit the fuse and covered my
ears. There was a huge flash of red and blue light, the percussion wave knocked
me to the ground. I stayed, laying on my back, as I watched this huge round ball
shoot into the sky. It kept going and going up, until about 20 seconds later
(okay, maybe 10) there was a huge flash that lit up everything for miles,
followed by another percussion wave and a beautiful display of red, white and
blue stars. That was the best ending anyone could have asked for.
The next day about 8:30 in the morning, we got a call from a neighbor who loved
the show. They thought it was much better than the show which was put on in
Kilmarnock. We got several more calls, before the ‘kicker’ that arrived around 1
pm. It was the Fire Marshall for the town of Kilmarnock. He was not pleased. He
wanted to know everything: who purchased them? Where were they purchased? Who
authorized their use? And, where do you live?” Well my mother gave him
directions and I knew I was ‘dead.’ About 2 pm the Fire Marshall arrived and I
hid behind my mother. Mom said “Stand up straight and take it like an adult”. I
stood up and said, “I did it, sir. It’s my fault.” He walked over to me, looked
me squarely in the eyes and said “Can you do it for us, next year?” Both mom and
dad started laughing. (I didn’t know that mom had talked to his wife earlier;
she was the one who thought my show was better than Kilmarnock’s.) High praise
for a 17 year old! Later that day, the Fire Marshall also told me, that a 747
flying at 37,000 feet had seen the last shell. He said they liked it, too! The
next year, the 4th of July Fireworks show was put on by the Kilmarnock Volunteer
Fire Department and me (and the A&W Sales Company of Pennsylvania, where I
bought the fireworks). The display was set off, on Bluff Point, over-shooting
the bay. Oh, and the bay was lit up, for miles, too.
I don’t recommend the 12-inch shell - unless you are already deaf.