Why don't we ask our local fire and police to donate their time out of the goodness of their hearts?

I agree with WOW. If you want a nice family outing pay for it! Self entitlement is so below the character of the Coventry I was raised in.

I donate every time when I pay fire taxes. I also donate my time and $$$ to help people and animals. Why don't you? Talk about entitlements that should not be. The average joe doesn't have a pension like you and we pay dearly for yours, but we don't have to get into it because our state and towns are going to go bankrupt and you won't have one either. That is reality. I guess you simply are not into helping anyone but your self...how unfortunate you are. You are the one that has the grinchy heart not my neighbors or me. We help each other and smile while we are doing it.

wow, I find your comment totally inappropriate! You must be a union member, lol. Anyway, we all choose our careers and sometimes you have to do something out of the goodness in your heart. I am in the Military and have spent 4 years since 2000 in a foreign country away from my family and friends. I have missed 5 Christmas holidays, Birthdays, 4th of July celebrations and even the passing of my Father. I have never asked anything from anyone and donate a lot of my time to various causes with the little time I have. Let this be a challenge to the residents of Coventry to come together and make this Fire works display happen. So (wow), the bottom line is "give and you shall receive".

Thank you for your service, Ken. My husband is a Vietnam Viet once stationed at the Nike Site.

LCR, I'm trying to decide who you are speaking to but what does taxes or pensions have to do with fireworks? If every resident gave $5.00 that would provide some display. I personally know people who have given 1000 times that much.

Ken did you get paid to go over to go overseas away from your family? Did you receive extra pay for being active duty at time of war? Did your family receive housing money? I would say YES you did. Firefighters are paramilitary personnel and are away from their families almost all holidays, so for you to bring up donate their time? Are you serious? Did you "donate" your time overseas no it was your choice to join the military and you knew that you would probably go overseas and be away from your family like firefighters and police officers do all over the country. So just stop there and know your facts before you open your mouth!

RealCoventryResident! I am going to take the high road on this Don't even go there! Maybe you should check your facts. I have many friends that are Police Officers in this town and throughout the State, Police officers and Firefighters go home to their family daily and they made that choice just like I made mine. You are turning this into a pay issue which you don't know what your talking about. I don't ever remember, or have ever heard of any Police Officer or Firefighter anywhere working 24 hours a day for weeks on end. I'll give you one thing, yes, all Military branches receive Hostile Fire and Eminent Danger pay which comes out to $12.50 a day combined. The pay is nothing like you imagine, even if I worked only 15 hours daily it comes out to $11.30/hr after taxes. My whole point is "I don't do what I do for the money, I take care of 150 soldiers and do whatever I can to make sure they come home to their families. My job is a donation to you and every other citizen of this country" Everyone is entitled to their opinion and beliefs and that's why I do what I do, "to make sure you can voice that opinion". Please get beyond the money subject and look at the big picture, we are talking about a Fireworks display for the kids, maybe if kids today saw or heard of adults doing the right thing and not thinking of themselves all the time we may end up with a generation that just might catch on.

Unbelieveable! How did a conversation about collecting money for a private fireworks display which the whole town enjoys become a debate about salaries and pensions about men and women who risk their lives for your backside?

The whole thing started when it was mentioned: "Aside from the cost of the fireworks themselves, required police and fire details cost the Johnson's Pond Civic Association more than $5,300 last year." I'm sure we all want to know why it cost so much, where does the money go with details, and what law requires it. I'm sure everyones opinion is it is too much money for just a few hours.

What is the going rate for saving a life these days? If there is no law requiring police and fire protection at a large gathering, what is the recommendation. We can't complain about what's being done without a viable alternative.

Yay, there have been some donations made! Fireworks make people happy...so you should all clearly donate. : )

Amen! Thank you, Jesus!

Average Joe? We need a Joe the Plumber to jump in this fight!

Yikes...Sorry for this turning political... The Johnson's Pond Civic Association is trying to raise enough money to put on a great Independence Day fireworks show to celebrate! If you are able to see the show and are able to donate (we realize times are tough) we would greatly appreciate any help! Every little bit does help!!! Happy 4th of July and I hope you can enjoy the show!
www.JohnsonsPondRI.myevent.com

Regarding wow's first comment, people volunteer out of the goodness of their hearts, not monentary reasons. That is if they are good people. Are you telling me your family doesn't enjoy the fireworks. I am a nurse and if I was asked to volunteer at a first aid booth, I would do so gladly and not expect to be paid my hourly salary. Just saying. I also have spent many holidays away from my family but volunteer my time for flu clinics and the like.