A humid evening, which contained the threat of light showers, did not stop residents and guests from celebrating America’s independence during Cranbury Township’s annual fireworks show.
A crowd filled Village Park and downtown Cranbury to watch the fireworks under the July 5 evening sky.
“We just moved from New York a couple years ago and were not aware that there were fireworks here. We found out this year,” said Gauri Mehra, a Cranbury resident. “This is a great community that loves to be together for any function.”
Mehra was joined by his wife Madhu Mehra. They both have been Cranbury residents for two years.
“We basically are from India. We came to this country 40 years ago. We still celebrate our Independence Day over there,” Gauri Mehra said. “Here Independence Day is celebrated in a different way, because we are a very mature 200 years old. I love this place. People in Cranbury have been very welcome and warm and do not let you feel like you are an outsider. That is a great thing.”
Prior to the fireworks, the Mercer County Symphonic Band performed American theme music and patriotic songs.
“We are a volunteer group that ranges in age from 18 to 84. This show will be largely patriotic. It will include marches and a couple of show tunes,” said Lou Woodruff, conductor and leader of the band. “We have preforming at the Cranbury fireworks show for more than 10 years.”
Carol Vandercher of Cranbury has been attending the fireworks show for decades.
“Independence Day means freedom for all of us. For us to try and not be hurting anyone and go for the good things in life,” she said. “We have many opportunities that others do not get to experience in other countries.”
Vandercher said the fireworks show is a good thing for togetherness.
Children played with their parents and friends inside the baseball field and on the grass throughout Village Park. Adults enjoyed each other with card games, sports and conversations.
The fireworks show began at 9:20 p.m. and ended at 9:35 p.m.
Rosemary Valeo, a resident of West Windsor Township, traveled to Cranbury to watch her son-in-law preform in the Mercer County Symphonic Band during prior to the fireworks show. She has been attending the fireworks show for five years.
“This is truly enjoyable. This is always an enjoyable experience. Independence Day is a time to reflect on how lucky we are. The day shows our gratitude to those who were smart enough to declare our independence. They wrote a Constitution that is so far still here.”
She said a town like Cranbury putting on its own show for decades highlights the town’s history.
