The Fourth of July holiday featured all the events area residents and visitors expect when we celebrate the founding of our great country.

Included were parades, festivals, social gatherings and, of course, fireworks. Fireworks displays are particularly welcomed at the end of the day that marks our independence, and young and old always enjoy the flashes and booms of the exploding projectiles.

That was the case at dusk at Mattson Lower Harbor Park in Marquette, where thousands of spectators gathered to watch the fireworks over the Lower Harbor. They weren’t disappointed, either, when the display began, but the end came way too soon when a small fire knocked out the control paneled used to launch the fireworks.

It was learned that the display would not continue, and a disappointed crowd dispersed much sooner than anticipated.

We understand that there can be mechanical problems and not everything can be completed as planned. Luckily, no one was injured during the mishap. In addition, being in the midst of the Fourth of July weekend, the shortened fireworks display was quickly put into perspective and revelers moved on with their celebrations.

There is a group of hard-working area residents, though, who have not put the issue to rest. These folks are members of the Marquette Fourth of July Fireworks Committee, which was formed last year after the former committee members resigned following the July 4, 2013, fireworks display.

The new committee jumped right in and vowed to raise enough money to not only ensure that the fireworks would be better than ever, but also to set up a revolving fund to make them sustainable for years to come.

This was accomplished, too, thanks to the efforts of the committee and the residents and businesses in Marquette and the surrounding area.

The committee is now working with Great Lakes Fireworks, the downstate East Pointe company that has coordinated the display for many years, to determine the financial ramifications of the shortened fireworks.

We’re sure the committee and the company will come to an amicable agreement, and the community can look forward to a bigger and better fireworks display on July 4, 2015.