While it has been nearly 20 years since the Scottown fireworks stand fire that killed nine people and injured several others it is always important to keep tragedies such as those in the forefront.

While the fireworks displays put on around the region during the July 4 holiday weekend may be visually appealing, we must also remember that no matter how many years pass, the wounds will never heal for those families and this holiday weekend will forever be different for them.

This is also true for those law enforcement and emergency personnel who responded to those tragedies.

Ultimately, this is something that we as residents must never forget either.

The Scottown fireworks tragedy brought many changes to the laws relating to fireworks, and many of those have been revisited over the past year.

We will always be responsible as a community to ensure we practice safety above anything else when it relates to fireworks to protect our neighbors, loved ones and communities.

While there is nothing that we can do to change the past, continuing to remember all those affected in those tragedies will help ensure the future is safe for all.