A performer on stilts entertains families at the Fourth of July
Freedom Fest at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort here, July
3, 2012. The Freedom Fest, June 29-July 4, is the second annual
Fourth of July celebration at the Fairmont with activities for
families to participate, as well as collecting donations from
various organizations that benefit military service members and
their families. Photo by Army Spc. Danielle Gregory |
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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (7/8/2012) -- Soldiers in the National Guard
partnered with the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort to host the
Fourth of July Freedom Fest for service members and civilians here,
June 29 –July 4.
The Freedom Fest is the second annual Fourth
of July celebration at the Fairmont with many activities for
families to participate in, resulting in donations from various
organizations that benefit military service members and their
families.
We are here to celebrate events that lead to the
Declaration of Independence and brought forward a nation unlike any
other, said Command Sgt. Maj. Max Butler, the state command sergeant
major of the Arizona National Guard.
This event benefits the
United Service Organization, The Army National Guard Emergency
Relief Fund, as well as Friends of Freedom, which gives scholarships
to military families.
“The purpose is to celebrate our
freedom and to honor the military for all of the service that they
do and we appreciate that on so many levels,” said Valerie Lee, the
public relations officer at the hotel.
Activities and
displays included a rock wall, military water-survival training,
games, military vehicles and aircraft displays, and live music.
“We are very grateful for the Arizona National Guard bringing
out all of these vehicles, rock climbing walls, putting gear on the
kids and teaching them water survival,” Lee said. “It is a way for
Army personnel to interact with guests in a fun and meaningful way.”
On the last night of the event, retired Sgt. 1st Class Dana
Bowman, a paraplegic and former member of an elite parachute team,
the Golden Knights, parachuted from a helicopter into the concert
while waving a giant American flag. |
“To be able to jump from
a plane with no legs, it doesn't matter, because each and every one
of us has a disability,” Bowman said. “Your disabilities are the
things you think you cannot do.”
Spc. Molly Cartens, a truck driver in Alpha Company,
158th Brigade Support Battalion, volunteered as a rifleman
for the color guard at the event's concert, and shared her
experience with being a part of the event festivities.
“I came to be in the color guard and help support the
various charity events for the National Guard here,” Cartens said. “It's nice for civilians to
understand that we are just like them even though we are a
select few who stand up for our country.”
The themes
of remembrance and appreciation remained strong throughout
the event and were reflected in the speeches presented.
The militias of the past stood strong and stood tall,
and they carried a dream forward, Butler said. It was
nothing more than a hope-a hope that maybe tomorrow their
children could go to school, and a hope that maybe tomorrow
there would be freedom for everyone. But it cost dearly as
some of them died in place rather than give up an inch of
ground.
People at the event laughed, cried and
cheered and children were captivated watching Bowman's
parachute jump and Butler's passionate speech.
“I
think seeing everybody choked up, especially on the last
night of the event, tears are flowing, people are inspired
and I think it really just shows that we want to remember
the purpose of the holiday, and why we're here to celebrate
different branches of the military and all service
personnel,” Lee said.
By Army Spc. Danielle Gregory
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
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