This is a Guest Post from The Ellclair Committee (Ellsworth St. Clair Lake Fireworks)
Friends of the Fireworks,
In 2004, a small group of freedom loving individuals decided that the Ellsworth area deserved its own fireworks display to celebrate the 4th of July. After an initial attempt to do it ourselves, we decided to make a serious effort. We then hired the same professionals that Boyne City, MI hires to put on their displays. We have always scheduled our display to complement but not compete with the fireworks held on the 4th of July. Our goal was to add to the traditional Freedom Week celebration that surrounds the actual 4th holiday. To further this goal, we established our Freedom Salute in 2007 to honor some of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country’s freedom. Starting at 5:15 pm and every fifteen minutes thereafter through 10:15, a shot is fired from a Civil War era cannon. After each shot is fired, our disc jockey stops the music and announces the name of the fallen that was honored by that shot. The sound of that individual’s name echoing across the waters of St. Clair Lake is always a moving moment. Our national anthem is played at 10:25 and the fireworks begin about 10:30.
The past two years we deviated from our usual scheduling to support the Ellsworth Pig Roast. Unfortunately, we did not meet our required funding during these years and a pair of board members generously made up our budget deficit. Additionally, we realized that a lot of the people that had previously attended and enjoyed our fireworks were not “Up North” yet because of the earlier date.
Now, an even smaller group of dedicated volunteers has decided to make one more attempt to keep our fireworks display. We are returning to our roots and we are scheduling our fireworks for Friday, July 5, 2019 so that more of our friends and neighbors can enjoy the fireworks and hopefully revitalize our funding efforts. We are also reviving the tradition of a boat parade in the early evening prior to the start of the fireworks.
Very simply and honestly stated, if we do not meet our funding goal, then this will be the last year of our fireworks display. Our yearly goal has always been a minimum of a $10,000 display. We are dedicated and unpaid volunteers who enjoy putting on the fireworks, but we don’t have the financial ability to cover the costs alone. We need your financial support to continue this celebration of our freedoms in one of the most naturally beautiful locations in northern Michigan.
Please remember that your contributions are tax deductible now that we are a 501c3 organization. Donations may be mailed to: Ellclair Committee, PO Box 282, Ellsworth, Michigan, 49729. Contributions may also be dropped off at any Charlevoix State Bank branch. Our account is: Ellclair Fireworks Committee.
To view a sampling of our previous fireworks, please like and follow us on Facebook at: Ellclair Committee-Ellsworth St. Clair Lake Fireworks.
Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter and we look forward to your support for our efforts to bring high quality fireworks to you this July 5th.
Sincerely,
The Ellclair Committee – Ellsworth St. Clair Lake Fireworks
Jerry Rasmussen Chuck Fox
Jan Rasmussen Kevin G. Stark
Federal Tax I.D. number 82-3041511