To the editor:

My family and I moved to Lawrence three years ago during the July 4th holiday. It was so very quiet that weekend with only the sound of a firecracker in the distance from time to time. Last year was a different story. Very loud for a town with a no fireworks law. This July 4th was the night of all nights since we have been residents. We love Lawrence and are so happy we moved here. However, someone or a lot of people in our neighborhood did not understand the city law on fireworks! Just down the street from us, it sounded like World War III had broken out! I do not mean to rain on their parade, but we have a law. Correct?

In our home we were dealing with a very anxious dog. We could not even take our dog outside. He refused and somehow held back his urine until morning.

Last, but not least, my husband is a veteran of the Vietnam War. He returned home safely, but returned with the scars of post-traumatic stress disorder. July 4th did NOT help him at all!

Could we have called the police? Yes. An article in the Journal-World stated a police officer had to witness someone lighting the fuse of a firework. Now, is that not a bit ridiculous? Perhaps what had been written in the paper was more than a challenge for some.

I do plan to attend the next City Commission meeting to voice my concerns.