4th of July, 1966, Lincoln, Nebraska
July 4th, 2025
Patrick and Timothy, the future Powder Blue Tuxedo Boys, are 14 years old and between 8th and 9th grade at Holy Family School in Lincoln, Nebraska.
It’s the week before the 4th of July, and fireworks stands are open all over the city. Patrick and Timothy spend their paperboy money on Roman candles, Black Cat firecrackers, and bottle rockets. The boys from Millard Lefler Middle School (the Pagans) have issued a challenge to the Catholic boys for a fireworks fight on neutral ground.
The combatants agreed on a playfield on the southeast side of town in a new development. It was so new, there was a wheat field next to the playfield.
The battle was set for sunset the night before the 4th. Patrick, Timothy, and four other classmates donned winter apparel, including gloves, goggles, and insulated coveralls. Some wore parkas. It was eighty degrees Fahrenheit with high humidity, but safety was paramount.
Both sides came armed with firecrackers, bottle rockets, and, for close-in action, Roman candles. M-80s (1/8 stick of dynamite) were not allowed in the battle. They were too dangerous.
The Millard Lefler boys were at one end of the playfield, and we, the Holy Family boys, were at the other. We all had punks in one hand to light our fireworks ammo and our ammo in the other, and our pockets.
Both sides started out with volleys of bottle rockets launched from our hands. They arced through the sky like blazing arrows across the battlefield.
We dodged their volley as best we could.
As we got closer, we started lighting strings of Black Cat firecrackers and throwing them at the pagans. They returned fire. The noise was deafening.
When we got to within ten yards, we Catholic boys lit our Roman candles and went in for the kill. The Millard Lefler Pagans did the same.
It was hand-to-hand fighting. Some boys were on the ground with bursts of colored flame from the enemy hitting their insulated winter wear.
And then it was over. We’d all run out of ammo.
We all shook hands and went home. A great time was had by all.
Happy Independence Day!
TJM
PS: The wheat field burned down during the night.
Timmy Tae's Thoughts 