Organizers scale down Cape July 4 celebration to one day

For the members of USA Veterans in Cape Girardeau, planning the city's annual Independence Day celebration is about much more than tossing washers, crashing cars and lighting up the night sky with fireworks.

It's bringing the community together to honor the birth of our nation, said Rodger Brown, commander of USA Veterans.

"It's the most patriotic day and celebration we have," Brown said. "We really need to celebrate it so that we keep in mind the idea that this country and its freedoms have been a fight from the beginning and probably will continue to be."

USA Veterans' July 4 celebration began four years ago, after the city of Cape Girardeau decided to cut funding for the annual fireworks display from its budget.

The multiday celebration in Arena Park has been scaled down this year to a one-day festival since July 4 falls midweek.

This year's fireworks display is expected to last about 20 minutes and will again be performed by AM Pyrotechnics, one of few American fireworks manufacturers.

Only about 3 percent of the fireworks in the U.S. are American made, said Aaron Mayfield, owner of AM Pyrotechnics. Most are imported from China but some also come from Italy, Spain and Portugal, he said.

"A typical fireworks show has about zero American-made fireworks, but our displays are 40 to 60 percent American-made," Mayfield said. Last year about 28 percent of all of AM Pyrotechnics shows were American-made, this year it hopes to pass 50 percent and is striving toward a goal of 100 percent.

There are some differences in the quality of fireworks made in this country compared to those made in China, Mayfield said.

"It's just superior in every way. The colors are richer and brighter, they burn longer, you just see something that is a lot prettier," he said.

Most Chinese fireworks last for 1.8 seconds on average, while those manufactured by AM Pyrotechnics last about five seconds. American methods also can produce a wider range of colors, including cyan, magenta and fuchsia. Most Chinese fireworks are either green or red, Mayfield said. Some varieties of fireworks, however, must be hand-rolled and are labor-intensive, so it's cost-prohibitive to produce them in the U.S., he said.

Choosing an American fireworks manufacturer was important to the USA Veterans group, Brown said.

Mayfield said the USA Veterans group is among his favorite customers.

"They are just one of the best. They are appreciative, they're very patriotic and they're sincere," Mayfield said. "Your city gets a lot of bonuses because they're so loyal to us."

The annual fireworks display that concludes the USA Veterans July 4 celebration costs $10,000, Brown said. The group's activities through the year help raise money for this and more is needed to help fund this year's show. The organization will host a yard sale this weekend at its new headquarters, 519 Good Hope St., as its final fundraising event before the July 4 festivities. A recent poker run also raised funds for the organization.

Brown said despite this being the fourth year for the organization to fund the fireworks, many residents still misunderstand and believe their city tax dollars pay for the fireworks.

The day will begin with washers tournaments at 9 a.m. Food and merchandise booths will be set up in the park throughout the day.

A demolition derby will begin at 6 p.m. in the Arena Park grandstand. But first, the Southeast Missourian's Spirit of America Award will be presented. Readers in Cape Girardeau, Perry, Bollinger, Stoddard and Scott counties in Missouri, and Union, Pulaski and Alexander counties in Illinois may submit nominations through Friday. The award will recognize an individual who most embodies the spirit of the nation: patriotic, loyal, giving, entrepreneurial and more. Nominations may be submitted online at www.semissourian.com/forms/spirit.

This year a new company has been contracted to coordinate the demo derby: Grandstand Attractions of Illinois. The company puts on demo derbies in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas. This year the company is also coordinating the Missouri State Fair demolition derby. The winner of the Cape Girardeau event will receive a free entry into the state fair's derby.

Unlike in years past, cars made before 1980 will be allowed to compete and there will be a compact car class as well, said Regina McDermith, owner of Grandstand Attractions. The purse is $2,900, and the first-place prize is $1,000.

For more information or to donate to the USA Veterans July 4 Celebration, call 573-587-3932 or visit www.usa-veterans.org.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

Arena Park, Cape Girardeau, MO

519 Good Hope St., Cape Girardeau, MO