We take great care with fireworks show

By Bob Depoutot, Northfield

I have been in charge of the fireworks for the Pittsfield Balloon Rally in the cemetery for more than 20 years. All vehicles, foot traffic and firework guns are on the roads only. The only grounds we walk on are near the river and only the river. I am a veteran myself and lost fellow Marines in Vietnam. I respect the dead.

There is no self-enrichment here. I work hard to promote the balloon rally every year. I work endlessly at my expense to bring the thousands of people to Pittsfield. This benefits all the kind people of Pittsfield, all the businesses that badly need the money to get by, and the Rotary, which uses the money to reinvest into the town.

I work at this every day of the year to help Pittsfield and am now working on the show for 2010.

When the show is over, the cemetery is cleaned to the littlest tack - perfect!

I have a close friend who is buried in Floral Park Cemetery. He was a friend to all in Pittsfield - Sen. George Freese Sr. - and gave me permission more than 20 years ago to use the cemetery. His wife and two boys, Gef and Rob Freese, say to me after every show, every year, "Thank you, Bob, because our dad is looking down from heaven with a big smile and applauding. Thank you."

This brings me to say our final resting place is with God.

http://www.cmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090824/OPINION/908240308/1029/OPINION03