Posted 1:41 am Sunday, July 05, 2009
East Texas Celebrates Nation’s Birthday
By REGIS L. ROBERTS
Staff Writer
The game at Lindsey Park Saturday was "Find a cool place to wait for the fireworks."
Staff Writer
The game at Lindsey Park Saturday was "Find a cool place to wait for the fireworks."
The Traylor family played it smart, finding the shadiest place possible to wait until the Tyler Jaycees' annual display of explosive awe.
Stan Traylor -- with his wife Shalundra, and children Nathan and Tiffany -- said this year was the first time going to a Jaycees Independence Day event.
He consulted with Mrs. Traylor about what they usually do for the Fourth.
They would normally go to friends' or relatives' houses for Fourth of July celebrations, they concluded. But the children wanted to see fireworks, and the Tyler Jaycees' Extravaganza at Lindsey Park is the place to be in East Texas if a show is what you want.
"$10 to see fireworks; can't beat that," Traylor said. "Good entertainment; good food," he added as he pulled a French fry from a large plate.
The Wallaces were sort of rivals in the game.
Mike Wallace said he and his wife Mary have been coming to the Jaycees Extravaganza for about five years, in contrast to the Traylors. They also staked their claim on a spot right in the middle of open field at Lindsey, almost completely exposed to the sun save for a green beach umbrella, casting a slight tint on Wallace's right side.
Mike Wallace said he and his wife Mary have been coming to the Jaycees Extravaganza for about five years, in contrast to the Traylors. They also staked their claim on a spot right in the middle of open field at Lindsey, almost completely exposed to the sun save for a green beach umbrella, casting a slight tint on Wallace's right side.
The real treat is at the end of the night, though, and the draw is simple enough to understand: "We want to see fireworks," Mrs. Wallace said. "This is where we come."
The Tyler Jaycees have been holding one of the biggest Fourth of July celebrations since the 1960s.
The fireworks show is put on by a Texas company called Atlas, John Palmisano, Tyler Jaycees business vice president, said.
But the event is not only a way to commemorate the birth of America; it also is a chance to bring in money and members to this Junior Chamber of Commerce.
A dunking booth supplies the Jaycees with funds, renting out to event organizers and using it at the Independence Day event to raise funds.
Alec Gilbert, 13, sits atop the bench over the mucky water, anticipating a ball sending him for a swim.
Although the point of the exercise is to not get plunged in -- hence the taunting -- Gilbert said it was a relief to get a brief bath in the 100-plus degree heat.
Gary Hartsfield, who ran the dunking booth, said many people buy multiple balls at $1 each, most buying three. By 5:30 p.m., only an hour and a half into the celebration, he said about 20 people bought balls to throw at the red, rectangular target.
One person bought five balls, he said.
Before settling down, Wallace was one of those passersby who were goaded into buying three balls in an attempt to sink Gilbert.
Before settling down, Wallace was one of those passersby who were goaded into buying three balls in an attempt to sink Gilbert.
"He was giving me some lip service, but I got him on the third ball," Wallace said.
The dunking booth, souvenir and prize booths, food and such were all just to keep attendees occupied until the finale.
Palmisano, his cheeks painted with stars and stripes, said the finale was a big 16-inch beast that ends the night of fireworks.
"It's about this big," he said, encircling both arms around his stomach, making an area the size of an extra-large pizza.
The lights, the bang, the pop, the colors.
Those are what the people came to see. Those are what bring people to Lindsey Park each year. And as long as the Tyler Jaycees deliver the goods, the audiences will keep coming.
Those are what the people came to see. Those are what bring people to Lindsey Park each year. And as long as the Tyler Jaycees deliver the goods, the audiences will keep coming.
