Smileus Municipalities from the Highlands to Cape May dazzle their residents and visitors alike with displays of colors, sounds, shapes, and bursts. Although some may look at July 4th as a celebration of individual freedom, history tells us it’s a traditional way to express our freedom foreign rule, and patriotism to our country. Other than the approach of a storm, fireworks on the 4th of July have always been a constant. Until we were faced with the 100-year pandemic. GettyImages As the number of Covid19 cases and deaths increased dramatically last summer, the world, the country, and our neighborhoods shut down. That “new normal” created so much anxiety. We were at war with a virus and needed to hunker down. One by one, events, traditions, work, school and celebrations all took a backseat for the sake of our survival. The traditional 4th of July fireworks celebration in 2020 was canceled almost everywhere.