FREEDOM FEST ON FOURTH: National Infantry Museum invites Soldiers, Families for celebration

By Ms. Cyndy Cerbin (National Infantry Foundation / Courtesy)June 28, 2018

National Infantry Museum
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

COLUMBUS, Ga. (June 27, 2018) -- The National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center on Benning Road in Columbus, Georgia, will host its sixth annual community-wide Independence Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 4.

Buses will be available from the east parking lot of Bldg. 70 for the convenience of Soldiers and Family members who live at Fort Benning. The last bus leaves the National Infantry Museum at 4:30 p.m.

The event will include music, children's activities, historical reenactments, food and fun.

In the spirit of the holiday, the festival will focus on American and military history. The Maneuver Center of Excellence will bring tanks and other vehicles for visitors to explore, and the MCoE Band will perform. Re-enactors will fire a cannon every hour and the Silver Wings Parachute Demonstration Team will drop onto Inouye Field.

Guests also can meet living historians from Westville and get close to reptiles from Oxbow Meadows.

New this year: old-fashioned games like three-legged races and sack races for the whole family to enjoy. Guests can tie themselves up in a giant game of Twister or let loose aggressions in the inflatable boxing ring.

There will be bounce houses, a rock climbing wall and the "Pint-Sized Patriots Parade," sponsored by Muscogee Moms. Children are invited to dress up their bicycles, tricycles, and wagons for a fun and patriotic parade down Heritage Walk. Instead of naming top prize winners, all participants receive a certificate, a flag to wave and coupons for free popcorn and drinks.

World War II Company Street will be open for self-guided tours between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Volunteers will be on hand to help visitors locate names on the Vietnam Wall and the Global War on Terrorism Memorial. The Memorial Walk of Honor will be open all day.

Vendors will sell ice cream, barbecue plates, chicken sandwiches, funnel cakes, hot dogs, hamburgers, pretzels, beer, frozen mocktails and soft drinks. The Fife and Drum restaurant and the Rally Point Canteen concessions stand will be open for diners who would rather stay indoors. And the Giant Screen Theater will be the perfect place to relax and cool off.

The museum's activities will end at 4 p.m. Festivalgoers will be encouraged to head to uptown Columbus or Phenix City for a concert in the riverside amphitheater and fireworks at dark.

Admission to Freedom Fest is free. There are nominal costs for the theater, simulators, food and drink.