Hohenfels celebrates US's 248th birthday

By Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public AffairsJuly 3, 2024

'Say, can you see'
1 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – JOINT MULTINATIONAL READINESS CENTER, Germany -- Spc. Jose Mendoza, a Soldier with the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, holds a flag up as he watches fireworks light up the sky during Hohenfels' Freedom Fest. U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria hosted its annual Freedom Fest July 3, 2024 at Warrior Field at the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment cantonment to celebrate the United States' 248th anniversary. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Bryan Gatchell) VIEW ORIGINAL
Cornhole on July Fourth
2 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – JOINT MULTINATIONAL READINESS CENTER, Germany -- Members of the Hohenfels Military Community enjoy a game of cornhole. U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria hosted its annual Freedom Fest July 3, 2024 at Warrior Field at the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment cantonment to celebrate the United States' 248th anniversary. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Bryan Gatchell) VIEW ORIGINAL
Static display
3 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – JOINT MULTINATIONAL READINESS CENTER, Germany -- Families talk with Soldiers about their armored personnel carrier outside of the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment headquarters building. U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria hosted its annual Freedom Fest July 3, 2024 at Warrior Field at the 1-4 cantonment to celebrate the United States' 248th anniversary. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Bryan Gatchell) VIEW ORIGINAL
Evening fun out
4 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – JOINT MULTINATIONAL READINESS CENTER, Germany -- Family members enjoy cooler weather during an Independence Day celebration. U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria hosted its annual Freedom Fest July 3, 2024 at Warrior Field at the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment cantonment to celebrate the United States' 248th anniversary. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Bryan Gatchell) VIEW ORIGINAL
Protecting community
5 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – JOINT MULTINATIONAL READINESS CENTER, Germany -- Members of the the U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria Directorate of Emergency Services survey the crowd at Hohenfels' Freedom Fest. U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria hosted its annual Freedom Fest July 3, 2024 at Warrior Field at the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment cantonment to celebrate the United States' 248th anniversary. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Bryan Gatchell) VIEW ORIGINAL
Dog-gone-it
6 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – JOINT MULTINATIONAL READINESS CENTER, Germany -- A Soldier and his pet dog enjoy the greens of Warrior Field during Hohenfels' Freedom Fest. U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria hosted its annual Freedom Fest July 3, 2024 at Warrior Field at the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment cantonment to celebrate the United States' 248th anniversary. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Bryan Gatchell) VIEW ORIGINAL
Family awaiting fireworks
7 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – JOINT MULTINATIONAL READINESS CENTER, Germany -- From left, Sgt. John Dabrowski, Joint Multinational Readiness Center; his son John Dabrowski; and spouse Marlee Dabrowski enjoy time together as a Family at Freedom Fest. U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria hosted its annual Freedom Fest July 3, 2024 at Warrior Field at the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment cantonment to celebrate the United States' 248th anniversary. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Bryan Gatchell) VIEW ORIGINAL
Grand ol' flag
8 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – JOINT MULTINATIONAL READINESS CENTER, Germany -- Spc. Jose Mendoza, right, Joint Multinational Readiness Center, holds aloft an American flag during the Hohenfels Freedom Fest. U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria hosted its annual Freedom Fest July 3, 2024 at Warrior Field at the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment cantonment to celebrate the United States' 248th anniversary. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Bryan Gatchell) VIEW ORIGINAL

JOINT MULTINATIONAL READINESS CENTER, Germany – The Hohenfels military community celebrated the 248th birthday of the United States of American during its annual Freedom Fest July 3, 2024 at Warrior Field in the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment cantonment.

Despite light rain and colder than usual temperatures for Germany in July, Soldiers and Families came out to enjoy time with one another, eat barbecue ribs and more.

After eating, children ran from attraction to attraction. Soldiers and children played with towering blocks of wood, trying to keep them from falling over. Others played cornhole on the lawn. Many Families simply sat together beneath canopies to eat and drink and talk with one another.

U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria Command Sgt. Maj. Hermes Acevedo talked with several of the Soldiers and Families alongside Angela M. Lane, the deputy garrison manager for Hohenfels. Military Police Soldiers patrolled the field to ensure everyone’s safety. Team members with the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, who helped organize the event, were there to ensure the event ran smoothly. Furthermore, organizations, like Service Credit Union, provided fun gifts to the children, such as light-up sticks.

As evening deepened beneath an overcast skies the community took their places to get the best vantage of the main event: the fireworks!

Fire in sky, on cellphone screen
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – JOINT MULTINATIONAL READINESS CENTER, Germany -- Hohenfels military community members enjoy fireworks at Freedom Fest. U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria hosted its annual Freedom Fest July 3, 2024 at Warrior Field at the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment cantonment to celebrate the United States' 248th anniversary. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Bryan Gatchell) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fireworks on the lawn
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – JOINT MULTINATIONAL READINESS CENTER, Germany -- Hohenfels military community members enjoy fireworks at Freedom Fest. U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria hosted its annual Freedom Fest July 3, 2024 at Warrior Field at the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment cantonment to celebrate the United States' 248th anniversary. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Bryan Gatchell) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fireworks above
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – JOINT MULTINATIONAL READINESS CENTER, Germany -- Hohenfels military community members enjoy fireworks at Freedom Fest. U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria hosted its annual Freedom Fest July 3, 2024 at Warrior Field at the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment cantonment to celebrate the United States' 248th anniversary. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Bryan Gatchell) VIEW ORIGINAL
Roman candles
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – JOINT MULTINATIONAL READINESS CENTER, Germany -- Hohenfels military community members enjoy fireworks at Freedom Fest. U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria hosted its annual Freedom Fest July 3, 2024 at Warrior Field at the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment cantonment to celebrate the United States' 248th anniversary. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Bryan Gatchell) VIEW ORIGINAL
Family portrait
JOINT MULTINATIONAL READINESS CENTER, Germany -- The Dabrowski family (from top down John, Sgt. John and Marlee) enjoy fireworks at the Hohenfels Freedom Fest. U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria hosted its annual Freedom Fest July 3, 2024 at Warrior Field at the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment cantonment to celebrate the United States' 248th anniversary. (U.S. Army photo by Bryan Gatchell, USAG Bavaria Public Affairs) (Photo Credit: Bryan Gatchell) VIEW ORIGINAL

To see more photos from this and other events across the garrison, visit https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBxUcR.