FORT BELVOIR, Va. (July12) -- Soldiers, civilians and their Families celebrated the United States Independence Day during the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation's annual Freedom Fest, July 4.
Hundreds of people set the patriotic tone on Freemont Field for an evening full of games, food and fireworks. They equipped themselves with red, white and blue hats, shirts, sporting gear and lawn chairs; one expectant mother even painted the American Flag on her stomach.
"It's a celebration of our country and the freedom and liberty that make us special," said Coast Guard Headquarters Cmdr. Jason Ryan who brought his Family along to celebrate and enjoy the atmosphere. "We serve this country everyday and it's nice to come out, celebrate and enjoy fireworks."
Freedom Fest provides Families a safe environment to celebrate Independence Day. Children and adults ate kabobs, hot dogs and hamburgers, funnel cakes, pulled pork sandwiches and ice cream among other food items provided by vendors.
Event sponsors, such as the Fort Belvoir Federal Credit Union and the United Services Automobile Association, provided Families with information on their services. When Families weren't eating or receiving answers to important questions, they were on Freemont Field biding their time before the fireworks.
Children and parents threw Frisbees, footballs and baseballs to each other before sunset. A group of people also gathered together to toss a volleyball around as an entertaining pastime.
"It's a picture perfect Family event," said Kristen Kinnamon, DFMWR Community Recreation chief. Kinnamon, one of several event organizers, said 6-months of planning went into the fest. She said the fest was an opportunity for Families to interact with each other.
Independence Day celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of the Independence on July 4th, 1776. Year after year Americans celebrate the holiday with fireworks, hot dog competitions and other leisure activities. Retired Army Lt. Col. Isabelle Slifer honors the day by playing the Star-Spangled Banner at 6:30 a.m., and placing one American Flag for each of the 50 states in her front yard every year.
Slifer, the current Association of the United States Army Reserve Affairs assistant director, started the tradition 26 years ago, with her children, to celebrate the United States. She called the U.S. the world's greatest nation.
"It's a big birthday party," Slifer said.
Speaking of parties, DFMWR provided festival patrons with plenty of music to listen, dance to and enjoy. Parents and children jammed to country, rhythm and blues, and other music genres from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Then Elvis Presley impersonator Lionel Ward and The New World Band performed as a precursor to the fireworks. Families lit up the Belvoir night with phones and glow sticks while the band played several Elvis Presley selections.
"Elvis was an American living the American dream," Ward said. "There's no greater way to celebrate than to go out and do Elvis."
Ward served 20 years in the Army and currently serves as a guitar instructor at the Fort Belvoir Community Center. The Freedom Fest performance, and others he's given at Fort Belvoir, allows him to give back to the military community and provide his students with inspiration.
"When students come see you perform, they think 'I can do that too,'" Ward said.
After the band's performance, Families took in a 30-minute fireworks display by Bay Fireworks. Thunderous booms echoed down across Freemont Field and vibrant colors filled the sky, illuminating the crowd watching below.
The pyrotechnic display concluded with rapid shooting of red, white and blue fireworks and was met with applause and cheers from the hundreds of people sporting their own American colors.
"There's no greater celebration than the Fourth of July," Ward said.
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