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Preston Xanthopoulos: I love Hampton Beach fireworks, but some things are more important

Alicia Preston
Alicia Preston Xanthopoulos

For decades, I have enjoyed the summer fireworks at Hampton Beach. Not the ones lit off in the marsh that fly over my roof at 2 a.m., but the organized ones put on by the community. They have been a staple in my life.

My family owned a beach businesses, and anyone who’s ever worked in the tourist industry knows, there are no days off in-season. But, once a week, we’d all get the night off to enjoy a family night together.  That was always Wednesday night and we looked forward to it every week. Wednesday was chosen, because that was the night of fireworks at Hampton Beach. Whatever our Wednesday family night plan was, it would always culminate back the beach for the fireworks. That is a lasting, wonderful memory of my childhood.

I was sad when the first two Wednesday night fireworks shows were canceled this season. They had been cancelled for Memorial Day and for the sand sculpture competition celebration and that was unfortunate, but the Wednesday nights are the ones I truly look forward to, to break up the work week. It’s also an unofficial start of summer for me. While I was bummed out, I completely support the decision to cancel them, because there are actually things more important than my eyes glittering at the bright lights and big booms in the sky. 

As we’ve all heard, piping plovers have made nests in the sand on the main beach area. So, while the eggs work to hatch and the little, adorable, fuzzy baby birds work their way out into the world, we humans have to sacrifice our celebratory and fun tradition of fireworks. If we don’t, they may die. Literally, die. I think that’s a good reason to put the fireworks off until they are safe. Some people disagree with me.  If you want to knowingly kill baby birds for a fireworks show, well, I won’t say it.  (Note: As of days before July 4, the fireworks at Hampton Beach were expected to happen.)

Others just don’t understand why these cancellations seem to be relatively new in the past few years. New Hampshire Fish and Game didn’t start protecting them until 1997 and now their population is growing. I presume that’s why we are seeing the beneficial fruits of the labor of protecting them. There’s more of them now and more of them nesting.  They are, however, still endangered.

Some other issues have been brought up in this discussion over the cancelling of fireworks. 

There are people happy with the cancellations because the fireworks bring in too much traffic and noise.  Well, it also brings in a lot of revenue to beach businesses, their employees, thereby also taxes. Besides, I’m not sure how many years we’ve had Wednesday night fireworks but, at least my entire life, so, chances are when you moved to Hampton Beach, you knew they existed. They’re basically grandfathered in from complaining. 

Then there are conversations that are legitimate to at least discuss, even if I do not agree they should be canceled over:

Pets. There are pets that literally cower every time fireworks, organized or individual, are set off. I have three dogs and they are completely not bothered (Atticus actually loves them) but, it is true other animals, particularly dogs, are frightened by them. Here is a good link to help calm your dogs if they get anxiety during the big booms:  10 Tips To Keep Your Dog Calm During Fireworks. There is no one who is as much of a crazy dog lady as I am, but I do not think it is right or fair to cancel community fireworks, enjoyed and adored by thousands children and adults alike, because a dog has anxiety. 

More seriously, is the concern some have for veterans with post traumatic stress disorder. For years, people have been sharing a heart-string-pulling meme of a female soldier in fatigues cowered with her service dog on the floor near a window with a firework exploding outside. 

Effective imagery. I believe that is absolutely a real concern for some of our nation’s bravest.  However, there are some good articles out there on this topic, and it is not a statistically widespread issue. According to an article in The Guardian, Dr Sonya Norman, the director of the PTSD consultation program at the National Center for PTSD, “‘it’s not the fireworks on the Fourth, that are scheduled, and people know it’s coming’ that cause the most distress, but ‘when your neighbors start shooting off fireworks on the third, without any warning.” 

Poll after poll indicates, the problem of fireworks for those with PTSD — which effects approximately 29% of those asked — are not organized fireworks, but the random, unexpected ones. Such is not the case with weekly, planned fireworks at Hampton Beach. 

The fact is, the very large majority of people love fireworks. They are exciting. The bright lights and sounds are magic, particularly to children. Speaking  of children, I think cancelling fireworks to protect an endangered animal is a great lesson for them — that there are some things more important than a human’s fun: an animals life. Disappointment is often the greatest lesson for a kid, if the disappointment comes for a good reason. 

So, little birdies, you grow and breed and we will patiently await the return of the beloved Hampton Beach fireworks, which are currently scheduled for July 4th! For me, it just means summer hasn’t started yet. Happy birthday, America! Happy Independence Day to all!

More:Here's a list of July 4 fireworks, events in Seacoast NH and southern Maine for 2022

Alicia Preston Xanthopoulos is a former political consultant and member of the media. She’s a native of Hampton Beach where she lives with her family and three poodles. Write to her at PrestonPerspective@gmail.com.