Freedom Fest 2019 was promised to be bigger, better and stronger than before — and it lived up to its billing.
New activities — including a 10-mile run and 12-mile ruck march, where participants carry a 30-pound backpack over the course of the event — combined with mild and calm conditions to bring around 300 participants and hundreds more people to the All Veterans Memorial on Saturday. Longtime organizer Steve Harmon says residents “blew it out of the water” with their support.
Main Street Director Casey Woods was taken by how far Freedom Fest has come over its history. He also says Emporia’s status as the founding city of Veterans Day means more responsibility to honor veterans the right way — and he says residents here get that.
Ruck marcher Alec Hite, a member of the Kansas State Army ROTC, was glad to honor veterans who served before him.
Part of the proceeds go to improvements to the All Veterans Memorial, which has seen a major expansion the past few years through the Tablets of Honor project. Longtime organizer and spokesman Frank Lowery says 11 tablets are full, a 12th is ready for engraving and plans continue for expanding the area.
Proceeds also benefit scholarships for children of military service members. Totals are pending.
Main Street also launched its military care package effort at Freedom Fest.
Among those in attendance was Lynn Jacob, a World War II veteran who turns 100 years old on Veterans Day. He appreciates what Emporia does for veterans.
Photos by Chuck Samples/KVOE News
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