Your best fireworks memory
Jul 4th, 2007, 08:48 AM
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Your best fireworks memory
Mine: July 4, 1976 -- viewing the fireworks on the Mall in Washington DC from the balcony of the Dept. of State's top floor. Couldn't see some of the ground displays but magnificent otherwise and memorable for being the Bicentennial. It went on forever.
Second place: any July 4th betwen 1953 and 1960 in Needham, Mass. on "high school hill," following a day of local parades, races, community celebration.
Second place: any July 4th betwen 1953 and 1960 in Needham, Mass. on "high school hill," following a day of local parades, races, community celebration.
Jul 4th, 2007, 09:50 AM
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Coming back to Ohio, driving on the Turnpike and seeing the fireworks at Cedar Point in the distance. At the same time there was an amazing lightning storm. No rain. As one firework would stop, the lightning would kick in. Back and forth. It was great.
Jul 4th, 2007, 10:31 AM
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2 nice memories here, just before my Mother passed away we took her up to Boston over the 4th for a family reunion and stood up on the Hill at Kelly's Roast Beef (a local legend) in Framingham and watched fireworks from several towns in the area, it was really wonderful.
As a kid my Uncle Will was one of the local firemen responsible for the fireworks in a small town in NH. Everyone sat in their cars and honked for a really nice display. One firework was really spectacular and looked like a green fountain on the ground really beautiful, the only problem was we knew that the firemen were UNDER that firework. It blew up on the ground, instead of in the air. Some of the guys had to actually jump into the lake. Uncle Will came home with huge holes in his shirt. A really nice memory.
As a kid my Uncle Will was one of the local firemen responsible for the fireworks in a small town in NH. Everyone sat in their cars and honked for a really nice display. One firework was really spectacular and looked like a green fountain on the ground really beautiful, the only problem was we knew that the firemen were UNDER that firework. It blew up on the ground, instead of in the air. Some of the guys had to actually jump into the lake. Uncle Will came home with huge holes in his shirt. A really nice memory.
Jul 4th, 2007, 11:05 AM
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Best and worst - the Bicentennial celebration in DC. The fireworks were spectacular, and the huge crowd was appreciative.
Metro was not completed at that time, so announcements were made suggesting that people in Virginia drive to the Pentagon, park their cars, and take shuttle buses to the Mall. My young daughter and I did so, and it was easy to get to the Mall and enjoy the late afternoon and evening there.
Once the fireworks were over, 1 million people tried to leave the area at once. The promised shuttle buses did not arrive, and I didn't think my daughter could walk across the 14th St. bridge back to the Pentagon. About 12:30 or 1:00am, I managed to get on a bus going to Springfield, VA - reasonably close to our home, but still a distance away. At the end of the trip, there was one gas station open with a pay phone(no cell phones in those days), and I managed to get through to my husband who was frantically dialing the police on another phone. He picked us up, and we said we'd drive 3 women to their homes fairly close to ours (no cabs available). First, we stopped at our house, put our sleepy daughter to bed (with our teenaged son to stay with her), drove the grateful women home, drove to the Pentagon (3am by now), and retrieved my car. The Pentagon lot was still about 1/2 filled at that time!
So - great fireworks and terrible logistics. I watch the fireworks on TV these days.
Metro was not completed at that time, so announcements were made suggesting that people in Virginia drive to the Pentagon, park their cars, and take shuttle buses to the Mall. My young daughter and I did so, and it was easy to get to the Mall and enjoy the late afternoon and evening there.
Once the fireworks were over, 1 million people tried to leave the area at once. The promised shuttle buses did not arrive, and I didn't think my daughter could walk across the 14th St. bridge back to the Pentagon. About 12:30 or 1:00am, I managed to get on a bus going to Springfield, VA - reasonably close to our home, but still a distance away. At the end of the trip, there was one gas station open with a pay phone(no cell phones in those days), and I managed to get through to my husband who was frantically dialing the police on another phone. He picked us up, and we said we'd drive 3 women to their homes fairly close to ours (no cabs available). First, we stopped at our house, put our sleepy daughter to bed (with our teenaged son to stay with her), drove the grateful women home, drove to the Pentagon (3am by now), and retrieved my car. The Pentagon lot was still about 1/2 filled at that time!
So - great fireworks and terrible logistics. I watch the fireworks on TV these days.
Jul 4th, 2007, 04:24 PM
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Favorite one of all time, sitting on the hood of the car with Dad who had just come home from his combat tour in Korea.
Fabulous to watch, sitting on the roof of the Fairhaven Inn in Fairhaven, WA watching the fireworks going off all around the San Juan Islands...spectacular!
Fabulous to watch, sitting on the roof of the Fairhaven Inn in Fairhaven, WA watching the fireworks going off all around the San Juan Islands...spectacular!
Jul 4th, 2007, 07:47 PM
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Here are three of my favorite moments:
1) Several years ago, we were in downtown Atlanta attending a convention over the 4th. We walked from our hotel to the Centennial Olympic Park and sat directly under the fireworks while the Atlanta Symphony played a pops concert.
2) My husband's grandfather died and his funeral was July 4 in south Florida. We did funeral things in the afternoon, then went to a nice dinner in Ft. Lauderdale, I think it was. On the drive back to Boca Raton via I-95, we could see the fireworks displays going on in several towns at the same time (I-95 being pretty much the highest spot in that part of the state).
3) My father and I were driving through St. Louis near the 4th of July five or six years ago and watched the city's fabulous display from the Interstate as we passed through town. It was so unexpected, and a great display. A great memory as well.
4) I was in a marching band touring Europe in 1985 (just a teenager
). We visited the home of the US ambassador in Geneva on the 4th, and were to play a show elsewhere in Geneva that evening. It came a huge thunderstorm in the late afternoon, and while we were indoors at the venue, lightening hit the fireworks and set them all off! Um, show canceled.
1) Several years ago, we were in downtown Atlanta attending a convention over the 4th. We walked from our hotel to the Centennial Olympic Park and sat directly under the fireworks while the Atlanta Symphony played a pops concert.
2) My husband's grandfather died and his funeral was July 4 in south Florida. We did funeral things in the afternoon, then went to a nice dinner in Ft. Lauderdale, I think it was. On the drive back to Boca Raton via I-95, we could see the fireworks displays going on in several towns at the same time (I-95 being pretty much the highest spot in that part of the state).
3) My father and I were driving through St. Louis near the 4th of July five or six years ago and watched the city's fabulous display from the Interstate as we passed through town. It was so unexpected, and a great display. A great memory as well.
4) I was in a marching band touring Europe in 1985 (just a teenager
). We visited the home of the US ambassador in Geneva on the 4th, and were to play a show elsewhere in Geneva that evening. It came a huge thunderstorm in the late afternoon, and while we were indoors at the venue, lightening hit the fireworks and set them all off! Um, show canceled.
Jul 4th, 2007, 08:39 PM
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When I lived in suburban Washington, DC in January 1980, the residents were treated to three spectacular fireworks displays within a few weeks time: one for Reagan's inaugural, the second to celebrate the hostages' return from Iran and the third to celebrate Queen Beatrix of the Netherland's birthday (don't ask me why DC was celebrating!) My friends and I attended all three, marveling that we lived in a city that could have such shows like this at the drop of a hat!!
Jul 5th, 2007, 05:37 AM
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It wasn't the 4th -- can't remember what occasion it was -- but flying at 30K over California and being treated to view of someone's firework display from above. Looked like little chrysanthemums.
Jul 5th, 2007, 07:13 AM
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Fantasy in the Sky fireworks at Disney's Magic Kingdom. I had seen them many times, and always enjoyed them. I had staked out my favorite viewing site one evening on the bridge between the castle and Liberty Square. The young couple next to me was debating about staying to watch or go back to their room (baby was asleep in the stroller). The wife wanted to stay, but husband was pushing to leave. I told him they had a great viewing spot and it would be worth watching. He grudgingly agreed, but continued to fuss during the show. Just before the finale, I told him to get ready, and then to turn around. The 360 degree finale began-he must have spun around at least three times, jaw hanging open, trying to take it all in. Once the show stopped, he turned to me and exclaimed, "Fireworks are never going to be the same again back home in Indiana!"
Jul 5th, 2007, 08:21 AM
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This is hard because my Mom was a fireworks person and I took her to Chicago's Navy Pier several years and also some Italian festivals as well. And we have also seen WDW and many others over the years (Boston's once too), and not the least has been our suburban towns and also the next suburban towns- both fabulous. And the ones we saw over lakes too count as different and great to view.
BUT #1 for all time- the last night of the last game at Old Comiskey Park before she got knocked down. This was like the finale of all finales going continually for a LOOOONGGG time to music- about 1/2 hour. And also everyone stood still and didn't move for nearly 10 minutes after it was over- many were crying. I will never forget it.
#2- One particular Chicgo Ridge, IL. Our Lady of the Ridge Italian (Chicago Knights of Columbus, Italian Sodality-Blue Ladies )carnival/festival held during the '70's sometime. This was full boat with 100's of Italian food stands, the little girls strung up like angels saying the Hail Mary in Italian etc. etc. It's done on the feast of Mt. Carmel in July. (We would have the 4th and then two weeks later the REAL fireworks.) LOL!
Our parish had a park district area that bordered the railroad into Chicago as a large big triangle- with the trains bordering one side of that triangle.
There were probably 100,000 people sitting on the ground in canvas chairs for a solid mile all around- and they had the stakes fountains and scenes displays with the saints set up against the railroad access area. 12 Apostles, Holy Family etc. all in 6 to 12 foot high figures- an Italian family ran fireworks business in Chicago at the time, I don't remember their name. But it went on for more than an hour (choreographed/plotted like a WDW's fireworks ship battle) and it was bright as day with ground level and sky level displays going on at the same time. My Mom just loved it and I got her wheel chair right up to the edge of the ground display. We had holes in our clothes when we were done! Firemen and about 20 fireworks experts from the Chicago company (now no more)ran it. And we could walk /push her home and talk to all our neighbors during the walk.
I'll never forget that one. The railroad was stimied by the show (crossings and schedule problems) that time and one train stopped to watch. And after that it was scaled down and moved to Melrose Park or Chicago Heights. Ah, I have memories of fireworks!
BUT #1 for all time- the last night of the last game at Old Comiskey Park before she got knocked down. This was like the finale of all finales going continually for a LOOOONGGG time to music- about 1/2 hour. And also everyone stood still and didn't move for nearly 10 minutes after it was over- many were crying. I will never forget it.
#2- One particular Chicgo Ridge, IL. Our Lady of the Ridge Italian (Chicago Knights of Columbus, Italian Sodality-Blue Ladies )carnival/festival held during the '70's sometime. This was full boat with 100's of Italian food stands, the little girls strung up like angels saying the Hail Mary in Italian etc. etc. It's done on the feast of Mt. Carmel in July. (We would have the 4th and then two weeks later the REAL fireworks.) LOL!
Our parish had a park district area that bordered the railroad into Chicago as a large big triangle- with the trains bordering one side of that triangle.
There were probably 100,000 people sitting on the ground in canvas chairs for a solid mile all around- and they had the stakes fountains and scenes displays with the saints set up against the railroad access area. 12 Apostles, Holy Family etc. all in 6 to 12 foot high figures- an Italian family ran fireworks business in Chicago at the time, I don't remember their name. But it went on for more than an hour (choreographed/plotted like a WDW's fireworks ship battle) and it was bright as day with ground level and sky level displays going on at the same time. My Mom just loved it and I got her wheel chair right up to the edge of the ground display. We had holes in our clothes when we were done! Firemen and about 20 fireworks experts from the Chicago company (now no more)ran it. And we could walk /push her home and talk to all our neighbors during the walk.
I'll never forget that one. The railroad was stimied by the show (crossings and schedule problems) that time and one train stopped to watch. And after that it was scaled down and moved to Melrose Park or Chicago Heights. Ah, I have memories of fireworks!
Jul 5th, 2007, 10:08 AM
#16
When I was a wee lad my folks took me to the LA Colosseum to watch a big fireworks show there on the 4th. Just after the national anthem, 3 F-86s (famous Korea War period fighter) overflew the stadium, and actually (I think) dipped below the elevation of the rim for a split second, during which time they lit their afterburners for the climb-out.
I don't know if anyone has heard military jets light their ABs, but suffice to say it was the loudest noise I've ever heard, and given the speed of the jets also the most startling.
The Colosseum held around 105,000 people at the time, and there were maybe 90,000 present, of which maybe 50,000 were children.
All crying and screaming. Second loudest noise.
I don't know if anyone has heard military jets light their ABs, but suffice to say it was the loudest noise I've ever heard, and given the speed of the jets also the most startling.
The Colosseum held around 105,000 people at the time, and there were maybe 90,000 present, of which maybe 50,000 were children.
All crying and screaming. Second loudest noise.
