MILWAUKEE — For many veterans, fireworks around the Fourth of July don’t symbolize freedom, celebration or excitement. They only bring fear, anxiety and agitation.

The sudden, loud noises — which sound like gunfire or exploding bombs to veterans — can be debilitating for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. They get agitated and go into an alert state. Everything gets ratcheted up, and there’s no time to come down if the fireworks are continuous.

Veteran Kent Qualls believes more people need to realize the unintended consequences of fireworks, so he created Operation Safe Space to raise awareness of the issue.

“The message isn’t to stop all fireworks,” he said. “It’s just to be courteous. Talk to your neighbors. Have a conversation.”

Originally, Qualls hoped to find a venue isolated from outside noise where veterans could go on July 4 to avoid the noise. That did not materialize, so he’s focused on raising awareness through the website www.operation-safespace.org. He’s also distributing flyers and ear plugs at veteran-centric events and has placed public service announcements on Milwaukee-area radio stations.

Like many veterans, Qualls did not start experiencing adverse reactions to fireworks until many years after his service. For him, it was brought on by someone being shot at his workplace.

“That sparked everything,” he said. “It brought up memories and past stuff that I thought I had put in a box.”

It was exacerbated by last year’s Fourth celebrations. “It really affected me. It was crazy. I had to drive outside the city, and when I finally got home, I just hunkered down. I talked to other veterans, and they were in a bad way.”

While it’s true that veterans can prepare themselves for the fireworks season, it’s not that simple for those dealing with PTSD, according to Milwaukee VA psychologist Dr. Mindy Marcus.

“That’s because it has to do with life and death and survival,” she said in a video produced in 2024 by the Milwaukee VA in conjunction with West Allis Police. “The more things that are happening that mimic that trauma scenario, the more likely it is that it will hit pretty hard.”

“I wish people that did fireworks understood that not everyone has the same reaction they do,” Iraq/Afghanistan veteran Chris Swift said. “It’s a scary situation for a lot of people. Be cognizant of that. Have a little compassion and empathy.”

Marcus agreed.

“Fireworks season is long. It’s a tough season for veterans and their families. Please consider veterans this summer.”