When one local couple realized there would be no fireworks
celebration today in Bradford – or any public observance of
Independence Day – sparks started to fly.

Frank and Cari Harriger talked with a Channel 7 News crew out of
Buffalo, N.Y., Monday in Veterans Square, after calling the news
station to say how disappointed and angry they were that their
hometown is not hosting any type of event or fireworks celebration
to mark the Fourth of July.

With three close family members currently fighting in Iraq as
part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Cari Harriger told The Era she and
her husband were “disgusted” when they called city hall and were
told the city’s Independence Day fireworks were postponed to
coincide with the 2006 Zippo/Case International Swap Meet July 21
and 22.

Harriger said she called city hall to ask what day the local
fireworks would be held, and was told there would be none. The
representative she spoke with, she said, encouraged her to watch
the fireworks displays being held at The Pennhills Club or in
Olean, N.Y., today.

When she called Pennhills, she said, a spokesperson there said
the display was private, but invited her to “park along the street”
on Minard Run Road. The person added, however, that police may
evacuate the area because the lines of parked cars present a
traffic hazard.

“Who wants to go through all that on the Fourth of July?” she
asked.

Having attended the Olean fireworks celebration in past years,
Harrigan said the Cattaraugus County city hosted a “huge,
family-oriented” event. But she wanted something a little closer to
home.

The more she and her husband thought about the holiday today and
their family members fighting in Iraq – Jeremy Blava in Baghdad,
Edward Martin in Fallujah and Jessica Freeman at an unspecified
location in Iraq – they decided to contact Channel 7 News.

“If it’s that the town can’t afford fireworks,” Harriger asked,
“why couldn’t we come together at the (Veterans) Square, which is
supposed to be the town pride, and sing the national anthem or have
a moment of silence?”

She said that as they became more agitated, their 10-year-old
son wanted to know why. They explained their family in Iraq was
“fighting for others’ independence, and we’re not celebrating our
own independence.

“We’re forgetting what we do have,” she said, “what men and
women have fought for and are still fighting for.”

Harriger emphasized their concern was not a “personal attack” on
the city or city officials, but instead an effort to bring
awareness to the community that “the single most important day in
our country’s history is passing us by.”

Councilman Bob Onuffer, who celebrates his birthday today, said
that while he agrees it would be nice for the community to have a
public, family-oriented celebration today, it is not uncommon for
the city to work with Zippo Manufacturing Co. and W.R. Case &
Sons Cutlery Co. on Swap Meet years regarding the fireworks
display. The Swap Meet is held every other year.

Onuffer pointed out a ceremony was planned for Friday to honor
the late Master Sgt. Thomas Maholic, a Bradford native who lost his
life in Afghanistan last weekend.

“That will be a really nice ceremony to honor his (Maholic’s)
ultimate sacrifice,” Onuffer said, adding many people were planning
to attend. He also pointed out the city foots the bill for the
full-sized American flags that adorn Main Street.

“My idea of celebrating (the Fourth of July) is getting together
with family and celebrating that freedom – that we can come and go
and celebrate as we please,” he said.

He did say, however, that those who feel differently and think
the community should observe the holiday publicly are welcome to
voice that opinion to Bradford City Council, or even better,
organize a group to plan an event for next year much the same way
First Night Bradford is orchestrated.

First Night is a nation-wide, family-oriented celebration of the
arts held on Dec. 31 or New Year’s Eve, featuring art displays,
musical and magic acts and informational speakers.

Councilman Ross Neidich said Monday that communities mark
holidays in different fashions – some with parades, some with
fireworks. At the same time, it is also not uncommon for a
community to choose not to publicly observe Independence Day, he
said, adding the town he grew up in, Franklin, held no public
events for the holiday.

“It would be nice,” Neidich said of a community-sponsored and
organized Fourth of July event, but added he was “not sure it’s the
city’s total responsibility” to provide it.

He did say, however, the subject is “worth looking into for next
year.”

Councilman Tom Riel said Monday night “It’s definitely sad and
unfortunate that there is no parade or fireworks display in the
city,” but added “most parades and fireworks are sponsored or
hosted by private organizations or corporations. So it’s not the
city’s responsibility to host either one of them.”

Riel said, however, he hoped Bradford would have a public
celebration next year.

Councilman Dan Costello and Mayor Michele Corignani were both
unavailable when contacted for comment Monday night.