For 21 years now the annual Freedom Fest in downtown Emporia has been a key piece of Emporia’s All Veterans Tribute schedule and the tradition continued this weekend with yet another record-setting year.
More than 300 individuals signed up to participate in the slate of events included in the 21st annual Freedom Fest held at the Emporia All Veterans Memorial and Soden’s Grove Saturday. With the event now spanning over two decades and still seeing significant growth, KVOE News asked organizers what they believe is contributing to said growth.
For Freedom Fest Committee Member and Emporia Main Street Community Development Coordinator Jessica Buchholz, much of it has to do with the reputation the event has not only locally but at the national level as well. Noting that many active military service personnel from around the country have participated in the event throughout the years, Buchholz says the event has become an opportunity for soldiers to support their own.
Longtime organizer and Army National Guard Command Senior Enlisted Leader Steve Harmon says the event always appeals to a wide audience as it consistently showcases “everything special about Emporia.”
For veteran Russ Bonitatibus, Vice-President of Lyon County State Bank the sponsor for Saturday’s 20-mile freedom ride, it is the fact that Freedom Fest and Emporia’s all Veterans Tribute as a whole is an amazing sight each year.
On top of sponsoring the 20-mile ride, LCSB was also raising money for the USD 252 Honor Flight program leading Bonitatibus to call Saturday a win for so many.
With Freedom Fest now in the rearview for another year, attention will shift to Emporia’s slate of activities for Veterans Day on Monday. Among the schedule will be the annual parade on Commercial Street beginning at 9:30 am followed by the Veterans Day memorial service at the All Veterans Memorial at 11:00 am.
Monday’s activities will also include the repatriation service for Army Sgt. John Owen Herrick who was killed in Normandy, France in 1944. Herrick’s remains were returned to Emporia Friday and will be laid to rest at Maplewood Memorial Lawn Cemetery at 2:30 pm.
As Veterans Day approaches KVOE News spoke with Kansas Army National Guard Specialist Robert Miller Saturday and asked what Veterans Day means to him. Miller responded saying it is a time for great self-reflection.
For a full schedule of Veterans Day activities go to VisitEmporia.org. KVOE will be broadcasting the parade on KVOETV at KVOE.com and the memorial service on both KVOE 1400 am, 96.9 FM and KVOETV.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News
