Enjoy the fireworks this week, but please do so responsibly

I’ve always told my dad that if you have to have a birthday on a holiday, then he has a really good one on the Fourth of July, which is a day to celebrate our country’s independence.

Mark White is Editor of The News Journal.

Most people have the day off. You have picnics and family gatherings. The day usually concludes with bright colorful fireworks displays in the night skies.

For most folks, it isn’t hard to have a good time on Independence Day.

However, most folks doesn’t mean everyone. This is especially true for many of our veterans, who have served in our armed forces to keep our country’s independence.

Many veterans – particularly ones who have served in combat zones – suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The sound of fireworks exploding in the air brings back memories of bullets flying by and explosions all around them, and familiar feelings of panic and anxiety flood their minds.

I can empathize.

When I was 12 years old, I got shot by a guy and his son target shooting at an outhouse. (No, I wasn’t in the outhouse by the way…LOL).

The bullet ricocheted and struck me in the leg about a block and a half away. I was in the hospital for five days and on crutches for a couple of months.

However, the psychological effects lasted a bit longer. For a few years, I would find myself jumping and my mind filled with anxiety whenever I heard a loud noise that sounded like gunfire, such as fireworks exploding. I was usually able to shake off that feeling after a few seconds or a minute or so.

It took a few years but the anxiety connected to loud noises went away. Hearing the sound of gunshots, at least if I know where they are coming from, doesn’t bother me. I rather enjoy fireworks, provided my neighbors aren’t setting them off after midnight on a work night.

However, I can certainly appreciate the fact that many of our veterans suffering from PTSD can’t enjoy fireworks like I do, and understandably so.

In addition, fireworks can pretty much terrify many animals when they explode, including my two geriatric cats, Gizmo and Gadget.

I am not advocating abolishing fireworks displays. People should enjoy them. They can be fun.

What I am suggesting is being conscious of your neighbors. Don’t set fireworks off after midnight. Remember that some people have to get up and go to work the next day.

If you have a neighbor, who suffers from PTSD, then give them a heads up about when you are going to be setting off your fireworks so they can wear earplugs around that time or turn up the television or radio to cover up the noise. This would also go for neighbors, who experience autism or have autistic children, who are disturbed by loud noises.

The same holds true for neighbors with pets. Give them a heads up so that they know to put their pets up for the night or to maybe give them some medication to relieve their anxiety.

For those of you living inside the Corbin city limits, remember that fireworks are only permitted between July 2 – 6 and on Dec. 31 from 10 a.m. until midnight each of those days.

Also, for those of you setting off fireworks at home on the Fourth of July, please do so safely and responsibly.

Only let children do so under adult supervision.

Have a water source handy nearby, and remember to clean-up the next day.

In addition, let me say an early happy birthday my dad and my former co-worker and buddy, Dean Manning, who was also an Independence Day baby.