Illegal Fireworks! The Generation Gap with Dorothy Wilhelm, Ray Miller Still and Jason Falls

It's Independence Day, the 4th of July is at hand.  Let's talk about illegal fireworks - and other patriotic things. On this edition of  Generation Gap, we pay tribute to the old days of the  4th of July when celebration wasn't complete til somebody blew off one or more appendages. On this show our regulars (Dorothy - Silent Generation ) (Ray - Millennial) (Jason - Gen X) will recall how Independence Day was different in their generations. Since we've been doing this show more than 10 years, we're convinced that there really is a big difference between generations. The fact is, when children and Grandkids come into the picture, it's a wonder anybody is still speaking. That's when we come in. On Generation Gap, we try to add some light to those different groups.  But then that sounds a little dull, so let's add some excitement with Fireworks!! After all, it is July.  Now, fireworks have always been controversial - But we've always loved them.    On today's show, Dorothy will talk about how she discovered an unopened trunk, left behind after her husband's death and full of illegal fireworks. Did you ever try to get rid of a trunkful of illegal fireworks? and Ray tells about the year he inadvertently set his street on fire.  In short, It will be a lot of fun. For the kiddies, there's the story of how big sister Elaine talked her brother into being the rear end of the horse costume she made.  Poor Stephen had a terrible time.  Fun Fact: It turns out that nobody gives treats to the rear end of a horse.   According  to PBS news.The display of pyrotechnics has always  been a big part of Independence Day. Founding Father John Adams saw it coming. Commemoration of America’s independence “ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more,” Adams wrote in a letter to his wife, Abigail, dated July 3, 1776. Fireworks were around centuries before America became a nation. The American Pyrotechnics Association says many historians believe fireworks were first developed in the second century B.C. in ancient China by throwing bamboo stalks into fires, causing explosions as the hollow air pockets overheated. By the 15th century, fireworks were widely used for religious festivals and public entertainment in Europe and early U.S. settlers carried on those traditions, the Association said. Links: The American Pyrotechnics Association - https://www.americanpyro.com/history-of-fireworks Ray Miller Still at the Courier-Herald - https://www.courierherald.com/author/ray-still/ Jason Falls on LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/jasonfalls Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices