Robin Hordon’s association of fireworks with war (Why not a peaceful Fourth of July?, August) is not only misguided, but ignores the reason for this celebration of our nation’s independence from an extremely oppressive and punitive England.

I can best summarize the reason with a quote from the co-author of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams, who penned on July 3, 1776, the day after Independence was declared, and the day before the Declaration was adopted in Congress, “that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival … by a solemn act of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore.”

Gary M. Schmidt

Kingston