“Decorating my bike and going on a parade in our neighborhood when I was a little kid.”

— Carrie Daly, stay-at-home mother, Saudi Arabia

“The first time I ever lit a sparkler because I definitely was scared; when I conquered that I was pretty happy.”

— Kami Wisdom, server at Johnny’s West, Lawrence

“Barbecues at my grandma’s house, in the yard playing horseshoes.”

— Matt Lawson, chef, Saudi Arabia

“Hanging out with the family. We lived in North Dakota and would always go out into the country and shoot fireworks”

— Jess Smith, works in a chiropractor’s office, Lawrence