FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (July 10, 2014) -- It rained, then it rained again.
Undaunted, crowds flocked to Fort Meade's Red, White & Blue Celebration on July 3 -- despite a thunderstorm and subsequent rainfall that twice cleared McGlachlin Parade Field of vendors and patrons and forced the cancellation of two bands.
As the rains finally subsided, the community returned to the field to enjoy free rides, novelty vendors and a spectacular, 40-minute fireworks display under a clear, evening sky.
"It's wonderful," said Army Cyber Chaplain (Col.) Keith Goode of Heritage Park, who brought nine of his 10 children to the event. "It's a great place to be, rain or shine. The Fourth is a time always worth celebrating."
The installation's early Independence Day observance was open to the community on and off post.
"By the time of the fireworks, a good 7,000 people came," said J.J. Jordan, special events coordinator for the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. "It was packed."
About an hour after the celebration began at 4 p.m., a thunderstorm with severe lightening and gusty winds forced the cover band Til September to stop mid-performance and the U.S. Army Field Band's The Volunteers to cancel its 7:30 p.m. concert.
Police cleared the site of patrons and vendors. Rides stopped and the inflatables were deflated.
"It was really windy and the lightening was really bad," said a staffer at Papa's Kettle Corn. "All the vendors had to shut down and go to their vehicles or into a building."
People waited in their vehicles or returned home until the storm ended.
Despite a light drizzle, rides went back up and a stream of visitors trickled onto the field, some carrying umbrellas.
Then it rained once more. People fled to their vehicles and under the gazebo and bandstand. Only the abandoned and deflated rides remained on the parade field.
"Here we go again -- in your car, out your car," said Lana Craig of Hanover, a Navy engineer technician who came with her husband, James, and their 5-year-old daughter Zoey. "We came last year. We loved it and came back."
As the rain tapered off, crowds returned, staking prime viewing spots for the fireworks with lawn chairs and blankets.
"We went out here earlier and got chased off," said retired Air Force Col. Erik D'Anna, visiting Goode from Colorado Springs, Colo., with his wife, Tonya, and six children. "There's a house full of kids and we saw the storm pass and wanted to get them out to enjoy all the activities,"
Among those who never left the site was Spc. Nick Louderbough, a neo-natal respiratory therapist at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, who attended with his wife, Dawn, and their four children.
"It's not like I've never been wet before," said Louderbough, who resides in Midway Commons. "We are staying for the fireworks. It's worth waiting for."
As temperatures cooled, lines quickly formed at both the rides and food counters where competing aromas ranged from barbecue and teriyaki to crab cakes and funnel cake.
Shrieks and laughter could be heard across the field as youths took a turn on the zip line, mechanical bull ride, Extreme Air Bungee Jumper, trackless train, Turbo Tubs, and five inflatables that included an obstacle course and huge slide.
Goode's 13-year-old son Caleb hung on to the mechanical bull until he was tossed off onto an inflatable. "It was exciting, a lot of fun," he said. "It's harder than it looks. You go as long as you can."
Sitting on chairs while holding umbrellas, retired Lt. Col. Bill Brown and his wife, Becky, of Potomac Place watched as granddaughter Cierra Lewis, 14, waited her second turn on the zip line.
"We left once and we came back," Becky Brown said. "We went home and changed clothes. My granddaughter wanted to come back and see the fireworks. And she loves the zip line. So we came back."
After zooming down the cable, Cierra, who was visiting from her home in Richfield, Penn., described the thrill.
"The ending is best," the teen said, "because you feel like you'll fall, but not really."
Before the thunderstorm, Brown was about to be strapped into a harness herself. "It was my turn," the grandmother said. "But I changed my mind. I have a pacemaker and need a back operation."
Air Force Maj. Paul Walker of the Defense Information Systems Agency and his wife, Cathy, watched their four daughters and one niece jump and flip on the Bungee Jumper.
Sarah, 12, who studies Irish dance, and Rachel, 10, who takes gymnastics, did multiple back flips.
"That was awesome," Sarah said after the ride. "I went really high and just kept jumping."
As darkness fell, children waved glow sticks and light sabers while waiting for the fireworks to start under the serene sky.
"The fireworks were great last year, and we're looking forward to it this year," said Walker, who resides in Potomac Place.
To fully embrace the experience, Sgt. 1st Class Shermaine Malone of the Army Corps of Engineers in Baltimore and Olivia Centellas rented a cabin at the RV Park for the night.
"We grilled steak and corn for dinner on the fire pit," Malone said, "and we will walk back and roast marshmallows."
Malone, who moved from Okinawa, Japan to Columbia in November 2012, learned about the fireworks during his first visit to Fort Meade last week.
"I [later] researched online what FMWR has to offer on base," Malone said.
The fireworks brought cheers and applause as spectators gazed at the exploding colors and patterns.
"Beautiful! Oh, my God! Breathtaking!" said Centellas, who was hold two small American flags.
"We love it," Malone said. "We know where to be next year."
Air Force Tech Sgt. Brett Hutman and his wife, Emilee, viewed the fireworks with his mother Bonnie Hutman of Chicago and the couple's 10-month-old son Caden.
"It was wonderful," said Emilee Hutman, who resides in Heritage Park. "And the finale was really awesome. I liked that it had two encores. I really enjoyed it."
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