ust about every summer when it starts getting closer to the Fourth of July, longtime residents of Rappahannock County will start reminiscing about when the Town of Washington would have its fireworks celebration. Those days are missed, but no more.
Thanks to the efforts of Rappahannock County's Emergency Coordinator Ritchie Burke and his team of dedicated committee members, there will be a fireworks display this summer.
"It's going to happen," said Burke in his office Tuesday morning. And Burke means it.
His committee consisting of co-chair Gary Settle along with Mike Leake, Greg Williams, Eddie Wayland and Greg Wayland have already met several times to get the planning under way.
The big difference this year is that the festivities will be happening on fields owned by Bill Fletcher off of U.S. Route 522 where the Thornton Hill Point-to-Point races are run.
"Bill's got 100 acres for us to work with," said Burke, "and that gives us a lot of room."
With new setback requirements for shooting off fireworks in place, Burke explained that having them in front of Avon Hall in Washington is no longer practical. That and the lack of parking cry out for a new location.
That's when Fletcher stepped in and offered his property as the setting.
"It's beautiful," remarked Burke, "with the mountains and the views."
The Sperryville Volunteer Fire Department will have a big hand in helping with this year's event, but Burke has already garnered the support of several local businesses and community members to bring back the Fourth of July celebration to the county.
"We want to make this as low cost as possible," continued Burke, who envisions folks coming with their picnic baskets, blankets and perhaps a small tent and for a nominal general parking fee having a fun-filled day plus fireworks at dusk.
There will also be space for those who would like to park their cars and tailgate.
"What we'd also like to encourage is for businesses to have prime spots if they'd like to set up a hospitality tent," said Burke, who is thinking that perhaps local real estate agents, contractors and others would take advantage of this for a tax-deductible donation.
"We will offer different levels of sponsorship for this area," added Burke, who said they would be recognized in a program for helping to fund the event.
Aside from a place to park, Burke is encouraging everyone to think about ways they might want to help. "I want to offer the nonprofits the first opportunity if they want to sell hot dogs or snow cones," he said. "We'll make sure that they all aren't selling the same thing."
Vendors will be more than welcome to set up stations and groups like RappFLOW and the Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection will be encouraged to have information available there as well.
Burke is optimistic that as the word gets out that groups like the Boy Scouts or 4-H clubs or The Lions Club will step forward and offer to run games like sack races and other activities for people to do before the fireworks. Also, they will need help with parking.
"There's room for a hot air balloon," said Burke with a broad grin, "and a moonbounce." Burke even has ideas about a display of antique cars.
And the fireworks. That's where Burke shines. He has been working with fireworks for more than 25 years and ironically he and Gary Settle were certified in the same year, 2001, that the decision was made to stop the event. They are both certified pyrotechnics.
"We used to help Hubie Gilkey with this years ago," said Burke.
A major fund raiser for the Sperryville Volunteer Fire Department, Burke and his committee are prepared to launch the return of the fireworks in a big way.
Happy to hear
Longtime Rappahannock resident Phil Irwin has been lamenting the loss of a Fourth of July event for many years and was delighted to hear of its return. As a close follower of the Washington Town Council and the vice-president of the Washington Hospitality and Visitors Association, Irwin is confident of their financial support. Both groups have talked about doing something to get the fireworks back in the county and news of Burke's plan partnered with the use of Fletcher's fields was music to Irwin's ears.
Irwin remembered.
"The former owner of Avon Hall was a great supporter of the Fourth of July and had it in his last will and testament that Avon Hall would be guaranteed for this purpose. This would be a great honor to Bill Carrigan for the fireworks to be returned to the county. It's a matter of civil and local pride that we all contribute to this celebration," stressed Irwin, who was well aware of recent setback requirements regarding discharging fireworks.
"I'm very excited about this," emphasized Burke. "We want to involve as many individuals, groups and businesses in the county as possible. This is for the community. This is about the community."
You may send donations to the:
Sperryville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
Attention: Fourth of July Special Event Account
P.O. Box 233
Sperryville, VA 22740
To get involved early, contact Richie Burke at 540-987-8570 or Gary Settle at 540-987-9333.
Thanks to the efforts of Rappahannock County's Emergency Coordinator Ritchie Burke and his team of dedicated committee members, there will be a fireworks display this summer.
"It's going to happen," said Burke in his office Tuesday morning. And Burke means it.
His committee consisting of co-chair Gary Settle along with Mike Leake, Greg Williams, Eddie Wayland and Greg Wayland have already met several times to get the planning under way.
The big difference this year is that the festivities will be happening on fields owned by Bill Fletcher off of U.S. Route 522 where the Thornton Hill Point-to-Point races are run.
"Bill's got 100 acres for us to work with," said Burke, "and that gives us a lot of room."
With new setback requirements for shooting off fireworks in place, Burke explained that having them in front of Avon Hall in Washington is no longer practical. That and the lack of parking cry out for a new location.
That's when Fletcher stepped in and offered his property as the setting.
"It's beautiful," remarked Burke, "with the mountains and the views."
The Sperryville Volunteer Fire Department will have a big hand in helping with this year's event, but Burke has already garnered the support of several local businesses and community members to bring back the Fourth of July celebration to the county.
"We want to make this as low cost as possible," continued Burke, who envisions folks coming with their picnic baskets, blankets and perhaps a small tent and for a nominal general parking fee having a fun-filled day plus fireworks at dusk.
There will also be space for those who would like to park their cars and tailgate.
"What we'd also like to encourage is for businesses to have prime spots if they'd like to set up a hospitality tent," said Burke, who is thinking that perhaps local real estate agents, contractors and others would take advantage of this for a tax-deductible donation.
"We will offer different levels of sponsorship for this area," added Burke, who said they would be recognized in a program for helping to fund the event.
Aside from a place to park, Burke is encouraging everyone to think about ways they might want to help. "I want to offer the nonprofits the first opportunity if they want to sell hot dogs or snow cones," he said. "We'll make sure that they all aren't selling the same thing."
Vendors will be more than welcome to set up stations and groups like RappFLOW and the Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection will be encouraged to have information available there as well.
Burke is optimistic that as the word gets out that groups like the Boy Scouts or 4-H clubs or The Lions Club will step forward and offer to run games like sack races and other activities for people to do before the fireworks. Also, they will need help with parking.
"There's room for a hot air balloon," said Burke with a broad grin, "and a moonbounce." Burke even has ideas about a display of antique cars.
And the fireworks. That's where Burke shines. He has been working with fireworks for more than 25 years and ironically he and Gary Settle were certified in the same year, 2001, that the decision was made to stop the event. They are both certified pyrotechnics.
"We used to help Hubie Gilkey with this years ago," said Burke.
A major fund raiser for the Sperryville Volunteer Fire Department, Burke and his committee are prepared to launch the return of the fireworks in a big way.
Happy to hear
Longtime Rappahannock resident Phil Irwin has been lamenting the loss of a Fourth of July event for many years and was delighted to hear of its return. As a close follower of the Washington Town Council and the vice-president of the Washington Hospitality and Visitors Association, Irwin is confident of their financial support. Both groups have talked about doing something to get the fireworks back in the county and news of Burke's plan partnered with the use of Fletcher's fields was music to Irwin's ears.
Irwin remembered.
"The former owner of Avon Hall was a great supporter of the Fourth of July and had it in his last will and testament that Avon Hall would be guaranteed for this purpose. This would be a great honor to Bill Carrigan for the fireworks to be returned to the county. It's a matter of civil and local pride that we all contribute to this celebration," stressed Irwin, who was well aware of recent setback requirements regarding discharging fireworks.
"I'm very excited about this," emphasized Burke. "We want to involve as many individuals, groups and businesses in the county as possible. This is for the community. This is about the community."
You may send donations to the:
Sperryville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
Attention: Fourth of July Special Event Account
P.O. Box 233
Sperryville, VA 22740
To get involved early, contact Richie Burke at 540-987-8570 or Gary Settle at 540-987-9333.
