More on July 4, 2008

Lookin’ for 2009? Try this.

July 4, 2008. For people who just want to know where to see fireworks displays in central Iowa, KCCI-TV has an easily-readable list. Personally, I am not as excited about fireworks as I once was. The two main reasons for this is the lack of artistry in many displays and U.S. military operations in Iraq.

In 2003 I stood on an apartment balcony, outside of Iowa, and watched fireworks in three different communities simultaneously. I could not help but compare the fun time Americans were having to the experience of Iraqi citizens caught in a shock-and-awe bombing campaign. On subsequent Fourths of July, I found myself thinking about soldiers and civilians who might be under fire. It’s not wrong to use fireworks to celebrate the independence of a nation secured through war, but it doesn’t feel right to accept them as an ordinary part of summer given the current status of so many members of the U.S. armed forces.

Fireworks displays are complex and dependent on nature. Clouds, humidity, and terrain will cause smoke from fireworks to disperse at various rates. One of the most amazing shows I ever saw was a July 3rd event where thick clouds kept the color of one round of fireworks in the background as the next round exploded. Not only was another dimension added to the show, the effect made it seem as though the explosions were rolling towards me.

The creation of fireworks involves secret family formulas, generations of production experience, and scientific advancements. The preparation for a show requires hours of physical labor, precise lighting of the product (frequently coordinated by computers), and knowledge of how atmospheric conditions affect all parts of the process. In addition, someone sets the length of time and the quantity of fireworks for the show. These are usually controlled by the available money but can also be tied to a certain piece of music (e.g., the 1812 Overture). Ultimately, one person makes a final decision about how the display will be organized. Even then, the observation point held by each individual viewer will factor into how the show is seen.

As I was researching material for this post, I discovered a wide range of events playing more off the themes of summer and fireworks than off of Independence Day. If you’re at Prairie Meadows or at Adventureland in Altoona on the Fourth of July, you might want to stick around for the fireworks. In Ankeny, fireworks come at the conclusion of Summerfest on Sunday, July 13th. Carlisle and Norwalk have more traditional July 4th activities, with parades and other activities. I could not find details about Carlisle’s 2008 activities as the links on the local government’s website don’t work and the Chamber of Commerce provides little more than a start time for the parade. Norwalk’s activities are similarly difficult to track down but, again, that community’s Chamber of Commerce has some basic information. In Norwalk, it is the Lions Club that sponsors the fireworks.

M.R. Field writes about local events for AroundDesMoines.com.