“I just sleeped five seconds in the car,” he explained.

Michael Brunick said they’re making a tradition of visiting Blakeslee on Independence Day. The price (free) is right, and they like the way the event unifies all parts of the community for one night.

“I think it’s really important because it gets everybody together,” he said.

The community was in harmony an hour later as the oohs and aahs flowed from Blakeslee and echoed across informal viewing spots in parking lots, roadsides, parks and backyards across the city.

When the last sparks of the grand finale faded away, there was nothing tangible left behind but smoke in the air and traffic jams on the ground. But there is one thing that’s lasting, something that makes the fund-raising, the organizing and the work worthwhile, Bailey said.

“I think it’ll be in everybody’s memory for a while,” she said.