With the city short on its budget, the Cuba Chamber of Commerce has agreed to take over the city Fourth of July fireworks presentation next summer. The chamber has even bigger plans for Independence Day in Cuba.

According to Dr. Don Fuchs, who is spearheading the project on behalf of the chamber, each year a member of the armed forces from the Cuba area, who died in service to his or her country, will be remembered and recognized as the official honoree of the Independence Day celebration.

The fireworks show next July will be dedicated to Floyd Vaughn, who died while returning from military service in the European Theater in World War II.

Fuchs said in each following year, the chamber will introduce the community to the background history of one of the remaining eight KIAs (Killed In Action) military heroes from our hometown.

The chamber also would like to honor any Purple Heart recipients at these ceremonies, and so the chamber requests the help of area residents who may be familiar with the Purple Heart winners and KIAs from the Cuba area.

Currently, the chamber has the following names of military servicemen who died in the line of duty: World War II — Floyd Vaughn, Ralph Fishwick, Lawrence Grant and Rex Powell; Korea — Pickney Brewer; Vietnam — Neal Crowder and Clifford Mullen.

Wilbur Vaughn is offering to provide biographical information about his brother, but the chamber needs your help in compiling the stories on each of the other heroes. If you have information on Purple Heart winners or KIAs from Cuba, send it to Don Fuchs of the Fourth of July Committee or to the chamber office.

“Your assistance is vital to the success of this event,” said Fuchs.