Feature Search

Andersen holds annual Freedom Fest celebration

  • Published
  • By Ralph Ridgeway
  • 36th Force Support Squadron
Team Andersen celebrated Independence Day one day early this year, July 3, during the annual Freedom Festival held from 3 to 6 p.m. at Arc Light Park. Nearly a thousand Team Andersen residents and their families took part in the festivities that were provided by the 36th Force Support Squadron. 

Everyone enjoyed a perfect afternoon filled with lots of fun, food and entertainment. The Top of the Rock and Magellan Inn Dining Facility staffs worked non-stop, grilling more than 1,000 hot dogs and 1,000 hamburgers for the hungry crowd. 

Some children cooled off on the popular water slide, while others headed for the bouncy castle and the other activities that included ring toss, hula hoop, face painting, hair spraying and craft tables. The highlight of the youth activities was the free horseback rides. Three very accommodating and even-tempered horses provided kids the opportunity to ride a horse. For many of them, it was their first equine experience and they enjoyed every minute of it.

Entertainment was provided by the band "The Electric Boonie Dogs," playing some great nostalgic rock music from groups such as the Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival and many more of the groups you either grew up with, or your parents told you about.

The day was highlighted by more than $10,000 in prize drawings conducted throughout the afternoon. The 36th Force Support Squadron Marketing Office gave away iPods, digital cameras, karaoke systems, music system, tons of gift certificates and even an Xbox. The highly anticipated Grand Prize drawings for roundtrip airfare for two to Cairns, Australia and Palau were held at the conclusion of the event. Linda McClung, spouse of Tech. Sgt. Lewis McClung of the 734th Air Mobility Squadron, was the lucky winner of the Australia tickets, while Capt. William Lujan from the 36th Medical Group won tickets to Palau.

Also, debuting at this event, was "The Ice Cream Truck," serving up great ice cream and other frosty treats for both youth and adults. The Ice Cream Truck will be making its rounds in base housing Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons starting in a couple weeks so keep your ears open for the familiar sound of music signaling the ice cream man is in your neighborhood.

As always, this event couldn't have happened without the hard work of many 36th Force Support Squadron personnel and volunteers, and our sponsors who provided all the prizes for this fun event.