Stan's glorious fireworks

PALMER — Last weekend, hundreds huddled around the Palmer Public Library in cars and along the railroad tracks in downtown Palmer to witness a yearly tradition that offered a special unifying experience for all those watching Stan Guthrie’s yearly fireworks show.

“You just get this overwhelming feeling in your heart, especially this year after what everybody has been through,” said Guthrie. “I do it as thanks and it’s always Thanksgiving weekend but I think the people this year seen that they had a moment of normalcy, a moment of fun a moment of them all coming together.”

In the year 2000, Guthrie put the fireworks show on for the first year and decided to keep it going in 2001 to promote a new location for his business, Country Cutts. Before he began setting of fireworks every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving at 7:19 p.m. in Palmer, Guthrie strengthened his Christian faith, giving his life to Christ in 1998 on July 19, which is why the display of bursting colors above Palmer is set off at 7:19 p.m. each year. Guthrie said that he felt a sense of freedom when he dedicated his life to his savior in 1998.

“You always have it because you’ve given your life to Christ and you know where you’re going and you wish to get others there too,” said Guthrie. “There was a lot of good things that came out of it and that’s when I decided to give it to god and to keep doing it, and so the rest is history.”

Over the years, thousands of people have enjoyed the show that typically lasts longer and flies higher than any other fireworks show in Palmer throughout the year. Stan’s fireworks offer a joyous finale to the Thanksgiving holiday. This year, more people parked in vehicles along the streets of downtown Palmer than usual, but Guthrie was impressed with the amount of people who were willing to stand in the cold and enjoy his fireworks with him.

“I was amazed at the crowd this year. I didn’t expect it during these times to be as large as it was and it was amazing and the show went off wonderfully. Every condition seemed to fall right into place. We ... hardly (had) any glitches. There’s a lot of glitches people usually don’t’ see but this year there was none so it was really, really smooth,” said Guthrie.

Guthrie puts his trust in Jackie Mattingly, of Aurora Pyrotechnics, to delight the gathered crowds with flashing colors above the Water Tower. Guthrie recalls during one of the first years of the fireworks, he saw a young boy and his mother waiting in line for Santa Clause at the Koslosky Center in Palmer. Later that evening, he watched as the fireworks lit up the smiling faces of the family. Guthrie hopes that local churches will come together to carry on the tradition when he can no longer celebrate the moment he gave his life to Christ with the people of Palmer.

“It’s been wonderful. It’s been a blessing to me to see all the people,” said Guthrie. “All the glory to God.”