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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.

 

Issues we are facing:

  • Overreach of power: You believe that a small group of people on a panel shouldn't be able to restrict the rights of citizens to use fireworks safely and respectfully. You argue that any such decision should be made based on a majority vote reflecting the will of the people.
  • Misrepresentation of Veterans: While acknowledging that some veterans may be affected by PTSD and fireworks, you believe that this is being used as a "shield" to push an agenda, and that most veterans do not have an issue with fireworks.
  • Infringement on rights: You feel that these bans infringe upon the rights of citizens to celebrate and enjoy fireworks, especially since Veterans served to protect those rights.

 

Veterans for Fireworks’ Initiative

Veterans for Fireworks aims to:

  • Counter the narrative: By gathering signatures from veterans who support firework usage, you aim to demonstrate that the current narrative of veterans being overwhelmingly against fireworks is inaccurate.
  • Empower veterans: You want to give veterans a voice and ensure they are not being spoken for without their consent.
  • Advocate for rights: Ultimately, you seek to advocate for the rights of both veterans and citizens to enjoy fireworks responsibly.

This is a complex issue with valid arguments on both sides. Your initiative has the potential to make a significant impact on the debate by providing a platform for veterans to express their views and challenge any assumptions being made about their preferences.

To join the growing list of Veterans who support the safe use of fireworks and are working to stop the use of their names for the purpose of restrictions, please take a few moments to complete the form by clicking the link below. 

Join Our Initiative Here!

 

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

Name: Jon Patrick Pringle
Rank/Branch: E-6 U.S. Marines
Years Served: 20

Name: Terrell Reitz
Rank/Branch: Technical Sergeant U.S. Air Force
Years Served: 17

Name: Melanie Schmucker
Rank/Branch: Corporal E-4 U.S. Marines
Years Served: 4

Name: Dennis Snyder
Rank/Branch: Specialist Fourth Class U.S. Army
Years Served: 2

Name: Carl Geiser
Rank/Branch: Chief Petty Officer U.S. Navy
Years Served: 21

Name: Kevin Hall
Rank/Branch: E-4 U.S. Air Force
Years Served: 7

Name: Lloyd Sponenburgh
Rank/Branch: Seaman E-3 U.S. Navy
Years Served: 4

Name: Vincent Kolafa
Rank/Branch: E-4 U.S. Army
Years Served: 2

Name: R. Emel
Rank/Branch: E-5 U.S. Army
Years Served: 2
 
Name: Paul Schutte
Rank/Branch: Private First Class U.S. Army
Years Served: 6

Name: Will Pond
Rank/Branch: E-7 U.S. Navy
Years Served: 20

Name: Daniel Bostick
Rank/Branch: Staff Sergeant U.S.  Marines
Years Served: 13

Name: Bradley McNeal
Rank/Branch: E-4 U.S. Army
Years Served: 6
 
Name: Lauren Andrade
Rank/Branch: E-4 U.S. Army
Years Served: 7

Name: Brett Penny
Rank/Branch: Master Sergeant U.S. Air Force
Years Served: 21

Name: Frederick P. Sexton, Jr.
Rank/Branch: ET 3/Reactor Operator U.S. Navy
Years Served: 6

Name: Floyd Kaminski
Rank/Branch: E-5 U.S. Army
Years Served: 21

Name: Frank Oakman
Rank/Branch: E-4 Specialist U.S. Army
Years Served: 3

Name: David Thomas
Rank/Branch: Sergeant U.S. Marines
Years Served: 6

Name: David Patterson
Rank/Branch: Sergeant U.S. Army
Years Served: 21

Name: Gary Crosby
Rank/Branch: E-4 U.S. Air Force
Years Served: 6

Name: Harold (Frank) Roy
Rank/Branch: Sergeant U.S. Army
Years Served: 4

Name: Nathan Gibson
Rank/Branch: E-5 U.S. Air Force
Years Served: 7

Name: Brent Black
Rank/Branch: WT2 - U.S. Navy
Years Served: 7

Name: Patrick McCormick
Rank/Branch: Captain - U.S. Army
Years Served: 18

Name: Bob Tupper
Rank/Branch: E-7 SFC - U.S. Army
Years Served: 26

Name: Richard Hartman
Rank/Branch: BTCS/E-8 - U.S. Navy
Years Served: 20

Name: Sean Taylor
Rank/Branch: Specialist - U.S. Army
Years Served: 2

Name: Danny Insalata
Rank/Branch: E-5 - U.S. Army
Years Served: 8

Name: Dakota Feagin
Rank/Branch: E-4 U.S. Army
Years Served: 4

Name: Warren R. Pearce, Jr.
Rank/Branch: Staff Sergeant - U.S. Air Force 
Years Served: 4