“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” These words built this country, and this weekend we honored our country’s origins.

Saturday was the most quintessential day in July to celebrate the Semiquincentennial anniversary of the United States, as the heat seemed to stay in line, and the rain stayed at bay. Citizens made sure to rhapsodize the joys of the day in their own time with their own activities and firecrackers, but as the sun started to fall, many gathered to see the annual Toledo and Tama Fireworks display at the Toledo Heights Park.

It was a record turnout at the park as families showed up hours before the show, just to enjoy the weather and have fun. Cars even parked on the side of the highway in anticipation of seeing the city’s fireworks display. This is juxtaposed by the low turnout of volunteers from the specially trained crew to set off the fireworks. The crew, made up of Toledo and Tama Fire Department members, started to set up at three in the afternoon, roughly six hours before the fireworks were set off, with a small crew of approximately eight.

This may be the last year for the fireworks set off in Toledo, as the Toledo City Council has recently discussed forgoing the display in the future due to rising costs. Toledo Mayor Brian Sokol has previously said, “City budgets are tough this year, especially with the proposals floating through the Iowa Legislature. We are looking at every line item to see where we can cut. The cost of fireworks has doubled over the past few years, with the current budget amount of $16,000. The discussion wasn’t necessarily cutting fireworks all together but exploring ways to share the cost.”

Whether you were heading out to watch the annual Tama-Toledo display or just outside this weekend in general, you were seeing fireworks, as they, at times, seemed to be popping off in every direction as everyone was having fun. It was the celebration for the 250th year of the United States, and no one held back. From waving flags to sparklers, from the oldest generation to the youngest, people seemed happy to usher in the next 250 years in the land of the free.