For many veterans, especially those with PTSD, the Fourth of July is the worst day of the year, as the fireworks remind them of wartime explosions and gunfire. But now there’s a way they can enjoy them without feeling traumatized.

The organization MilitaryWithPTSD, together with agency Area 23/FCB Health, has created headphones that don’t just cancel the noise, they actually play messages of gratitude to veterans alongside the firework explosions. The messages are recorded by members of the public at a website, thespeakingfireworks.com, and then synchronized through the headphones to match the intensity of the firework explosions — so the most intense and heartfelt messages match the biggest fireworks.

It’s an incredibly innovative idea, and we hope it reaches as many veterans as possible.