Independence Day

7 Fireworks Safety Reminders

Posted on Monday, June 26th, 2017 at 9:00 am    

ColorfulFireworks

Fireworks are gorgeous from a distance, but up close we need to have our wits about us to avoid serious bodily injury and property damage. Each year thousands of injuries are caused by fireworks. The 4th of July is right around the corner and with that in mind, please be extra cautious and remember the following:

  1. Fireworks are NOT toys – they are explosives that contain combustible chemicals and gunpowder and can burn upwards of 2,000 degrees, so keep away from children.
  2. Have water and a fire extinguisher nearby in case a fire starts.
  3. Secure your firework completely before lighting the fuse to make sure it stays upright.
  4. Ignite your firework at an angle and quickly back away to a safe distance.
  5. Only set off one firework at a time.
  6. Use a wide open space – avoid shooting off fireworks near buildings, crowds, or dry fields.
  7. When finished, placed used fireworks in bucket of water and dispose of all debris.

Remember to check for fireworks shows you can attend in your area that are designed and operated by pyrotechnic professionals so you can enjoy from a distance!

Happy 4th of July! Stay safe!


Boyd Family History in the Revolutionary War

Posted on Thursday, July 4th, 2013 at 12:57 pm    

 

Boyd History

John Boyd — Revolutionary War

 

Lester Boyd

Blanchard Boyd

Harry Boyd

John Boyd

David Boyd

John Boyd

 

6 generations– that’s all that separates me from the Revolutionary War.  My Great-great-great-great grandfather, John Boyd, was born in 1847, in Scotland, we believe.  While we will never know his motivation for leaving, he must have thought it quite an opportunity to come to America as a free man and make war against the English!  He lived for 57 years after the end of that war on a farm in western Pennsylvania, in peace, in a new nation.  During that time, he raised many children; one son, David, moved across the Ohio River to Jefferson county, where the Boyds have lived ever since.

The past seems so in the past, but my grandfather’s grandfather fought in the Civil War, my father was born only 13 years after women were granted the right to vote, and I am the first child in my family’s history to be raised from birth in a home with indoor plumbing and electricity.

Whatever our challenges as a nation, I am grateful for those who sacrificed to win our freedom.