Freedom Festival
Celebrating freedom in our country, thanks to our military
The 2023 Freedom Festival Committee on May 3, 2023
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May 19, 2022: A recording of one of the promotional interviews heard on radio stations KBLB, KUAL, WWWI, KLIZ, KKIN, KFGI and KLKS.
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Saturday, May 21, 2022: The first Brainerd VFW Freedom Festival on Armed Forces Day was a success in spite of 50-degree temperatures. It celebrated the freedom we enjoy in this country, thanks to the military who made it possible.
The event started with a prayer by the Post Chaplain: Oh Lord, on this Armed Forces Day, we give thanks to the people who have served and those continuing to serve our country in the quest for peace. We honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we may be here today. From the Bible, John 15:13, and I quote, “Greater love has no one than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” God bless them and the troops still serving…. Amen
There was a flag retirement ceremony where worn and torn flags were burned with a final salute. Flag folding was demonstrated. Youngsters had the opportunity to learn as well.
Food, DJ music, kids' games, face painting, silent auction, bean bag tournament and a caricature artist made the event fun. Tessa Larson of Brainerd was the winner of the patriotic quilt.
The event started with a prayer by the Post Chaplain: Oh Lord, on this Armed Forces Day, we give thanks to the people who have served and those continuing to serve our country in the quest for peace. We honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we may be here today. From the Bible, John 15:13, and I quote, “Greater love has no one than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” God bless them and the troops still serving…. Amen
There was a flag retirement ceremony where worn and torn flags were burned with a final salute. Flag folding was demonstrated. Youngsters had the opportunity to learn as well.
Food, DJ music, kids' games, face painting, silent auction, bean bag tournament and a caricature artist made the event fun. Tessa Larson of Brainerd was the winner of the patriotic quilt.
From Brainerd VFW Auxiliary President Sue Sterling: The Brainerd Auxiliary, Post 1647 in Brainerd, Minnesota, organized and held a community event on Saturday, May 21. This date was chosen because it was National Armed Forces Day. There were many members who stepped up to the plate to make this event a reality, and the result was a very successful freedom festival.
As you know, the Covid pandemic and its restrictions created so much fear that people had been staying away from any public gatherings. It was disheartening to see our member attendance dwindle. Helen Doucette, our Sr. Vice President, came up with the idea to have a freedom festival, and she worked tirelessly with VFW members, the local DAV chapter, and the city council to make it happen. Helen has been a member for over 45 years and has held all the officer positions within those years. She is truly an inspiration. The Freedom Festival took place in the city parking lot behind the VFW. We had face painting for the kids, a caricature artist, games for toddlers and bean bag toss for the adults. We offered very low-cost hamburger and hotdog baskets, and had drawings every 15 minutes for prizes donated by local businesses. Helen's grandson, David Doucette, drove up from Minneapolis to be our announcer and DJ for the entire afternoon. The weather was very cold for a day in May, 53 degrees and windy with a threat of a thunderstorm, but the public came out anyway. We've had a lot of positive feedback.
I'm sharing this event with you so you can use it to inspire the other auxiliaries to hold similar ones. What I feel is so important is that people ARE willing to work together once again for the good of all. Attached are an article I wrote and some photos taken throughout the day of the festival. It was publicized in the local newspaper; they even sent out their photographer and put our flag-burning ceremony photo on the front page of Monday's newspaper!
As you know, the Covid pandemic and its restrictions created so much fear that people had been staying away from any public gatherings. It was disheartening to see our member attendance dwindle. Helen Doucette, our Sr. Vice President, came up with the idea to have a freedom festival, and she worked tirelessly with VFW members, the local DAV chapter, and the city council to make it happen. Helen has been a member for over 45 years and has held all the officer positions within those years. She is truly an inspiration. The Freedom Festival took place in the city parking lot behind the VFW. We had face painting for the kids, a caricature artist, games for toddlers and bean bag toss for the adults. We offered very low-cost hamburger and hotdog baskets, and had drawings every 15 minutes for prizes donated by local businesses. Helen's grandson, David Doucette, drove up from Minneapolis to be our announcer and DJ for the entire afternoon. The weather was very cold for a day in May, 53 degrees and windy with a threat of a thunderstorm, but the public came out anyway. We've had a lot of positive feedback.
I'm sharing this event with you so you can use it to inspire the other auxiliaries to hold similar ones. What I feel is so important is that people ARE willing to work together once again for the good of all. Attached are an article I wrote and some photos taken throughout the day of the festival. It was publicized in the local newspaper; they even sent out their photographer and put our flag-burning ceremony photo on the front page of Monday's newspaper!
Planning committee for the 2022 Brainerd VFW Freedom Festival
Saturday, August 18, 2018: Before the COVID Pandemic, a Freedom Festival was held at the Jenkins, Minnesota, VFW Post. It was a coordinated effort between the Brainerd VFW Auxiliary and the Jenkins VFW Auxiliary. Lots of fun and prizes. There was a proper flag burning ceremony for worn-out flags.
