Fourth isn’t free

Janice Kwiatkowsky [BDN letter, July 11] has no idea of the time and effort that goes in to putting on July 4 activities, including the fireworks. More importantly, she has no idea whose time and efforts make it happen.

If it weren’t for the Kiwanis clubs in the area, there would be no fireworks in Bangor. Dozens of Kiwanians start planning for the event six to eight months in advance. This means putting aside their families, hobbies, and social events to attend meetings, contacting area businesses for support, making phone calls to find the bands, coordinating with police for traffic control, permits, paying for liablitiy insurance, getting out posters and flyers, media events, finding a grand marshal, and much more. Those same wonderful people show up on July 4 at about 6 a.m. and sometimes earlier.

They do it because if they didn’t, no other organization has stepped forward to say they will take over. They do it because July 4 has special meaning to them. They do it because they like to see adults and kids have a fun-filled day. They can always use extra manpower and ideas; perhaps you would like to help next year. Bring your ideas to the table on how to raise more money so they can put on a show that will meet your expectations.

The parade and fireworks are, for the most part, an event that is free to the public. It does not matter that you live in Glenburn, Corinth, Old Town, or are just passing through. It is free to all. Did Kwiatkowsky pay anything out of her pocket to see the fireworks or donate any money to help support the fireworks? Did she know the company that puts on the fireworks display does not do it for free? It costs well over $10,000 to have them light up the sky for you and people like you. Perhaps if the bands and other organizations participated for free, the Kiwanians could use that money to put on a better firworks show for you; but that is not the case.

The Kiwanis clubs do not benefit monetary wise from putting on this show. They do it because no one else has stepped forward. Last year they ended up in the red.

I keep asking myself who benefits the most from all of this work. It is the general public; the citizens and families who spend the day in Bangor to enjoy the plate of activities. The problem is the people who come to enjoy the show would rather not pay anything. It’s all supposed to be free, but it isn’t. If the Kiwanis clubs decide to spend their time and energy on fund-raising activities where the money goes toward helping the needs of the community and its children, rather than organizing the July 4 activities, there would be no activities on the Fourth. David Winslow Bangor