Want to go?
WHAT: 12th Annual Patriot Freedom Festival Honoring Women in the U.S. Military
WHERE: Dayton VA Medical Center, 4100 W. Third St., Dayton
HOURS: 11 a.m. -6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, May 28-29
COST: Free
INFO:
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/patriotfreedomfestival
The 12th Annual Patriot Freedom Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Dayton VA Medical Center.
“We have an opening ceremony at 11 a.m. on Saturday,” said Cindy LaPointe-Dafler, the volunteer events director for The American Veterans Heritage Center, which hosts the annual event.
ENTERTAINMENT
The festival includes entertainment on the main stage throughout the two-day event. Music ranges from gospel and Christian rock to classic rock, soul and blues. Acts include Stirred Not Shaken, Still Standing, Switch 2 with Courtney Wise, gospel guitarist Charles Kennedy, Middle Eastern dance troupe Roja, The Vibe, Sam Johnson Band, Jason Ligier, Eric Loy and Margaret & The Magnets. The 4 Freedom Equestrian Team will provide a mounted theatrical performance.
“These acts we have are all volunteers,” LaPointe-Dafler said. “They don’t get paid to do this. That’s amazing to me that so many people love our veterans and care about them and come every year.”
Historical re-enactments will include James Crabtree as President Lincoln, the 101st Airborne WWII Reenacting Association and the 5th Ohio Light Artillery. Wayne Coulter and the Third Army Living Historians Groups will have a large display of WWII Army weapons and equipment. Plus, “our genealogist, Carolyn Burns, will help you discover your military ancestry,” LaPointe-Dafler said.
TOURS
Besides enjoying the entertainment, visitors can take guided historical tours on an air-conditioned tour bus. “It’s about a 45-minute tour,” LaPointe-Dafler said. “It includes the Grotto Gardens, that have recently been refurnished by the Montgomery County Master Gardeners Association.”
Other activities include shopping at dozens of food and crafts vendors; plus, veterans can get free haircuts in the Putnam Library Building 120.
LEARNING
The family-friendly event includes a children’s military educational program. “It’s run by an award-winning educator at Stivers,” LaPointe-Dafler said. Children can learn military songs, try out meals ready to eat and plant flowers. “It’s to encourage future gardeners,” LaPointe-Dafler said.
SERVICE
An Interfaith Veteran Recognition Service will be held Saturday from 6-6:45 p.m. in the Grotto Gardens, and will include music and prayer. “We’ll have a special recognition for one of our volunteers who’s passed away,” LaPointe-Dafler said.
This annual event supports the American Veterans Heritage Center. Its mission is to “honor the accomplishments of veterans while preserving a priceless piece of national and local history — the Soldiers Home located at the VA Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio.”
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