Editor, Gazette-Journal:

On behalf of the Mathews Fireworks Committee, I hope you enjoyed attending the Independence Day celebration at Mathews High School as much as we loved putting on a great show. It is always exciting to see so many of you along with your families and friends! William Earl Sadler provided us with a beautiful rendition of our National Anthem.

This event has become a focal point for the community and I want to thank the countless volunteers who give their time to ensure success. In particular, I would like to express my appreciation to Robin Dehoux, Christopher Dehoux and Owen Tyler for their many years of involvement on the committee. They have decided 2016 will be their last year.

I would also like to thank the individuals and businesses who donated, a list of which is included in this week’s Gazette-Journal as a way of saying “Thank you!” These private funds not only go towards the fireworks, but also to services incurred in preparation. I wa...