Each year on the Fourth of July, pyrotechnic company owners Steven and Glenda Hawkins light up more than the night sky; they light up people’s hearts with a special tribute.
“We’ve been doing it for ten years now,” Glenda said. “Anyone that passed away between July Fourth one year and July Fourth the next year, we put their names on fireworks and sky lanterns in their memory.”
For the Hawkins, it is a way to honor those who have passed and send heaven-bound wishes to them from Earth. Before releasing them, they call out the people’s names and offer a prayer. This year, they videotaped the ceremony and shared it on social media.
“I’ve had family members reach out to me in tears after seeing the videos from last night because they said they would have never thought of doing something like that,” Glenda said the day after Demorest’s Glorious Fourth celebration.
Heaven bound
The Hawkins have been in the fireworks business for many years. Their business, Pyrotechna, is based in Northeast Georgia. They have managed Demorest’s fireworks for the past three years.
A home health nurse by trade, Glenda sent up a red, white, and blue American flag lantern this year in memory of a Vietnam veteran who was one of her patients.
“I took care of him for two years. His family was with us last night to release his lantern.”
Glenda said the family wrote messages to him on the lantern before they released it.
It’s those heaven-bound messages that stir people’s souls.
Heaven sent
This year, Demorest City Councilman Shawn Allen’s neighbor found one of the lanterns in her yard. It listed the names of area residents who died this past year, including 15-year-old Teddy Bone.
The Eastanollee teen died July 3 from injuries he suffered in a church van wreck June 29 in Demorest.
“My neighbor found it and texted pictures to me while I was watching the John Berry concert,” Allen said. “I had spoken to the technicians earlier in the day, so I was able to tell her what they were.”
Allen said it was such a compassionate act for the community.
“We need more stories of people that do nice things like this. They didn’t seek any recognition, but I felt like the community should know.”
Allen says he’s glad his neighbor found the lantern. He is sending it to River Point Community Church, where Teddy worshipped.
Allen said, “I think of it as a prayer that was sent up and came down to help a grieving community.”
