Gentry celebrates freedom on July 4th

Fireworks lit up the sky behind Old Glory, awing the thousands in attendance for the annual Freedom Festival in Gentry's city park on Tuesday, July 4th.
Fireworks lit up the sky behind Old Glory, awing the thousands in attendance for the annual Freedom Festival in Gentry's city park on Tuesday, July 4th.

— People — thousands of them — gathered in Gentry City Park on July 4th to celebrate America's birthday. And, other than some light rain showers late in the afternoon, Gentry's annual Freedom Festival was deemed a great success, with those in attendance enjoying the all-day musical entertainment, the children's games and activities, the pageants and, of course, the huge fireworks display at dusk.

Cars lined the circle walk for the annual car show in spite of the threat of rain showers. The annual pageants were held, including the Miss Gentry pageant which had not been held for years due to lack of contestants.

Following the evening entertainment and just before the fireworks display, the Star Spangled Banner was sung over the the public address system for all to hear. But, midway through the National Anthem, the PA system failed. That failure didn't stop the celebration. The crowds took over and sang the Anthem until the words, "O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?" sounded in unison across the city park. Then all cheered and the fireworks display began.

For more on the annual Freedom Festival and lots of photos from the celebration, see next week's Eagle Observer.