For $221k, July 4th Fireworks Show on National Mall in Washington Will Go On

    The show will go on.  Sequestration may have cost Washington D.C. tourists a chance to tour the White House, but the Independence Day fireworks will go off as planned.  A contract was awarded today to Garden State Fireworks of Millington, NJ for $221,819.77.  The listing for bids on the typically business-like fbo.gov website contained this somewhat colorful solicitation:

Provide supervision, labor, materials, supplies and equipment necessary to present an innovative, bounteous, dynamic and attractive fireworks display for Independence Day on the Grounds of the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. on July 4, 2013.

    The National Park Service that puts on the fireworks show each year offers several suggestions for enjoying the show which is scheduled to begin at 9:10 on the evening of the 4th:

• Consider wearing hearing protection. These fireworks are BIG and LOUD.
• Consider wearing eye protection to protect yourself from falling debris.
• Consider not bringing pets.

Note: This article first appeared at The Weekly Standard.