National Fireworks Association Veterans Committee

Legend has it that Captain John Smith set off the first fireworks display in the American colonies in Jamestown, Virginia in 1608. He and other settlers used fireworks to celebrate special events. The United Sates of America first used them to mark our Independence Day on July 4th, 1776. Subsequently, fireworks became synonymous with our Independence Day celebrations when they were used again at our first anniversary on July 4th, 1777, in Philadelphia and they have continued as part of our national anniversary celebrations each year since.

The National Fireworks Association (NFA)- Veterans Committee is an Association that is dedicated to the preservation of fireworks and ensuring the safety for everyone involved and making sure that we have fireworks for many years to come. We as the Veterans Committee of the NFA understand the emotional scars that come from war such as PTSD and other internal injuries. All our committee members are veterans of different branches of the military and are proudly representing our service and our service with the NFA to keep fireworks around for generations to come. These Veterans below stand behind fireworks and don’t want to see them be banned in any form.

To join the growing list of Veterans who support the safe use of fireworks, please take a few moments to complete the form.

Veterans for Fireworks

Veterans Who Support Fireworks

Name: Devin Vargas
Rank/Branch: Staff Sergeant U.S. Army
Years Served: 12 years

Name: Cameron Atkin
Rank/Branch: Sergeant U.S. Army
Years Served: 6 years
Name: Zachariah Orland
Rank/Branch: Corporal U.S. Marine Corps/Sergeant U.S. Army
Years Served: 5 years/5 years
Name: Hannah Orland
Rank/Branch: First Lieutenant U.S. Army
Years Served: Currently serving
Name: Amanda Atkin
Rank/Branch: Specialist U.S. Army
Years Served: 5 years
Name: Heather Orland
Rank/Branch: Sergeant U.S. Army
Years: 10 Years
Name: Aaron Orland​
Rank/Branch: Sergeant U.S. Army
Years Served: 8 years
Name: Nathan Gibson
Rank/Branch: SSgt U.S. Air Force
Years Served: 7 years
Name: Joe Talarski
Rank/Branch: Pfc U.S. Army
Years Served: 3 years
Name: Andrew Webb
Rank/Branch: Machinist's Mate (Nuclear) 1st Class (E-6) U.S. Navy
Years Served: 8 years
Name: David Dumm
Rank/Branch: E-4 Corporal U.S. Marine Corps/U.S. Marine Corps Reserves
Years Served: 8 years
Name: Jed Allsup
Rank/Branch: E-4 U.S. Army
Years Served: 9 years
Name: Tom Dunaway
Rank/Branch: SSgt U.S. Air Force
Years Served: 4 years
Name: Ed Boling
Rank/Branch: U.S. Navy
Years Served: 6 years
Name: Michael Janke
Rank/Branch: SP-5 U.S. Army
Years Served: 6 years
Name: Caleb King
Rank/Branch: Sergeant U.S. Marine Corps
Years Served: 6 years
Name: Edward Small
Rank/Branch: Sergeant U.S. Army
Years Served: 4 years
Name: Alfred Lupien
Rank/Branch: Major U.S. Army
Years Served: 20 years
Name: Donna Lupien
Rank/Branch: Lt. Colonel U.S. Army
Years Served: 22 years
Name: Joseph Oliver
Rank/Branch: SSgt U.S. Army
Years Served: 20 years
Name: Jonathan McCormick
Rank/Branch: E-3 U.S. Marine Corps
Years Served: 2 years
Name: Chad Ullery
Rank/Branch: E-5 U.S. Navy
Years Served: 8 years
Name: Joseph Keary
Rank/Branch: Lt. Colonel U.S. Army
Years Served: 31 years
Name: Ronald Knight
Rank/Branch: SFC U.S. Army
Years Served: 24 years
Name: Paul Schutte
Rank/Branch: E-3 U.S. Army
Years Served: 6 years

Name: Travis Harvey
Rank/Branch: E4, U.S. Army
Years Served: 10 years

Name: Jerry Scott
Rank/Branch: SFC U.S. Army
Years Served: 22 years

Name: Mark Trebacz
Rank/Branch: Sergeant U.S. Air Force
Years Served: 4 years

Name: Grayson Smith
Rank/Branch: Staff Sergeant U.S. Air Force
Years Served: 19 years

Name: Dickie Vaughn
Rank/Branch: Master Chief Petty Officer U.S. Navy
Years Served: 22 years

Name: Joseph J. Pachorkowsky
Rank/Branch: Engineman 2nd Class U.S. Navy
Years Served: 6 years

Name: Robert F. Jones
Rank/Branch: SP5 U.S. Army
Years Serviced: 7 years

Name: Frank Matra
Rank/Branch: STS2 U.S. Navy
Years Served: 6 years

Name: Darien Senior
Rank/Branch: Corporal U.S. Army
Years Served: 6 years

Name: Ben Taylor
Rank/Branch: Commander U.S. Navy
Years Served: 28 years

Name: Stephen McCauley
Rank/Branch: Chief Petty Office U.S. Coast Guard
Years Served: 20 years

Name: Julius A. Heyne
Rank/Branch: E-4 U.S. Army
Years Served: 2 years

Name: Ronald Pyles
Rank/Branch: Sergeant U.S. Army
Years Served: 8 years

Name: Chris
Rank/Branch: Sergeant First Class U.S. Army
Years Served: 20 years

Name: Gary Clare
Rank/Branch: Sergeant E5 U.S. Army
Years Served: 6 years

Name: Ryan Creech
Rank/Branch: Private First Class U.S. Army
Years Served: 6 years

Name: Matthew Lawrence Ott
Rank/Branch: Master Sergeant U.S. Air Force
Years Served: 24 years

Name: Imran Uddin
Rank/Branch: Petty Officer 1st Class U.S. Navy
Years Served: 8 years

Name: Patrick Cook
Rank/Branch: TSgt U.S. Air Force
Years Served: 20 years

Name: William Locke
Rank/Branch: E4 U.S. Air Force
Years Served: 4 years

Name: Josh Lansdale
Rank/Branch: Specialist U.S. Army
Years Served: 8 years

Name: David Collins
Rank/Branch: Sergeant U.S. Army
Years Served: 10 years

Name: Jesse Klotz
Rank/Branch: E-5 U.S. Marines
Years Served: 6 years

Name: Brandon Groters
Rank/Branch: Specialist U.S. Army
Years Served: 8 years

Name: Jeff Fessenden
Rank/Branch: E-4 U.S. Air Force
Years Served: 4 years

Name: Jonathan West
Rank/Branch: Staff Sergeant
Years Served: 8 years

Name: Cande Maynard
Rank/Branch: E-2 U.S. Air Force
Years Served: 2 years

Name: Terrell Reitz
Rank/Branch: TSgt
Years Served: 17 years

Name: Cody Zink
Rank/Branch: Sergeant First Class U.S. Army
Years Served: 20 years

Name: John C Selph
Rank/Branch: Gunnery Sergeant U.S. Marines
Years Served: 18 years

Name: Milton S Surre
Rank/Branch: Specialist U.S. Army
Years Served: 3 years

Name: Justin Bartoo
Rank/Branch: Captain U.S. Army
Years Served: 6 years

Name: Christopher Barth
Rank/Branch: E-2 U.S. Army
Years Served: 2 years

Name: Francis T. Marton
Rank/Branch: PO2 U.S. Navy
Years Served: 4 years

Name: Daniel Gargasz
Rank/Branch: Sergeant U.S. Air Force
Years Served: 6 years

Name: Mark Slack
Rank/Branch: Sergeant U.S. Marines
Years Served: 8 years

Name: Thuc Tran
Rank/Branch: Master Sergeant U.S. Army
Years Served: 23 years

Name: Ronnie Henderson
Rank/Branch: E-4 U.S. Marines
Years Served: 6 years

Name: Ronald Knight
Rank/Branch: Sergeant First Class U.S. Army
Years Served: 26 years