Austin, MN Freedom Fest • July 3-5, 2015

FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2015

•Austin to celebrate Vietnam War veterans.

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•Freedom Fest schedule.

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•Hog Jog strides for new route.

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Overdue thanks

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Freedom Fest to celebrate Vietnam vets Freedom Fest hits a historic milestone this year as we mark the 30th anniversary Sandy Forstner of Austin’s “celebration of community Austin Area Chamber of and country.” First called Cedar River Commerce Executive Director Days, the event has always been held over the Fourth of July weekend and has always featured plenty of red, white and blue. This year, certainly, will be no expose conflict, but we must still all stand ception. united in our support of our troops. And Community festivals, such as Freedom as a country and as a community, we Fest, are about family, friends and neighmust all remember to thank and support bors. They are the direct result of people those who have served. working together and pooling Vietnam veterans will be rectheir resources together for the common good. They build ognized this year, as the Grand community pride, strengthen Marshals of our Fourth of July parelationships, showcase the rade. We are hopeful that many community and enhance our will join us to be recognized and quality of life. thanked for their years of service They also provide us with anto our country. When they pass by, stand to salute them, cheer other opportunity to recognize veterans and celebrate the freeHecimovich them, and welcome them home.

Following the parade, all veterdom we all enjoy thanks to their ans will be recognized in a ceremony at service. the bandshell. Retired Maj. Norm HeciThis year, the Chamber’s Festival movich, a Vietnam veteran, himself, will Committee has selected a group of vetdeliver the keynote address. The grounds erans that served our country well, over will set the stage as pathways in the park 40 years ago. They did not return from will be lined by U.S. flags, placed by our Vietnam with the same welcoming spirit Mower County veteran organizations in we see extended to service men and women, today. There were no ticker tape recognition of veterans.

Join us for Freedom Fest, July 3-5, a parades; no welcome home celebracelebration of community and country. tions. Instead, there was a national sense of failure and wrongdoing. Returning servicemen were at best ignored and at worst jeered. It was a tumultuous time in our history, and shamefully, the public’s anger often fell on those who had served.

Much has changed since the fall of Saigon in 1975, particularly with our attitude toward those who step forward to serve our country. Through a long and painful soul-searching, the country came to realize that Americans are free to op-

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Honoring sacrifice

Field of flags to grace Bandshell Park starting with the Fourth of July VFW Commander Scott Wiechmann, from left, Austin Parks and Recreation director Kim Underwood, outgoing American Legion Commander Rollie Hanson, American Legion Post 91 Commander Kirk Olsen and Austin Area Chamber of Commerce Director Sandy Forstner stand at the site where more than 75 flags will be arrayed along the path at Bandshell Community Park during Freedom Fest on July 3 to 5. Herald file photo

By Jason Schoonover

jason.schoonover@austindailyherald.com

A field of flags is coming to Austin.

The American Legion Post 91, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, the auxiliaries and other veterans groups are partnering to bring the field of flags to Bandshell Community Park for future patriotic holidays.

The flags are set to debut during Freedom Fest and will be on display July 3-5.

“It’s going to look good,” Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander Scott Wiechmann said. “It’s going to enhance the area, and it just promotes Americanism.”

A group of veterans and Austin officials gathered at the park last Thursday to check out the spot for the future field of flags on each holiday. About 76 to 80 flags will be spaced about 10 to 20 feet apart and will line the trail from Main Street, past the bandshell and to Ninth Place Southwest just north of the Veteran’s Pavilion. Flags could eventually be added to another stretch of trail that runs north to south through the park.

Like the veterans, city leaders are on board with the idea.

“We think it’s fantastic,” Austin Area Chamber of Commerce Director Sandy Forstner said. “For years we wanted a field of flags as part of that celebration.”

The chamber organizes Freedom Fest each year, and Forstner said the field of flags AUSTIN DAILY HERALD - FREEDOM FEST

will be a great addition to the park to remind people where our freedom comes from.

“One of the reasons we call it Freedom Fest is it’s the Fourth of July, we’re celebrating our independence,” Forstner said.

The flags will be used for holidays like Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Veterans Day, Flag Day, Patriot Day and at special request.

“I think it will be a great deal to honor all the veterans and help on the holidays kind of beautify it,” incoming American Legion Post 91 Commander Kirk Olsen said.

Outgoing American Legion Commander Rollie Hanson said he hopes the field of flags will help encourage people to recognize and show respect for veterans.

“It’s a great chance to honor our veterans and something that I think should have been done a long time ago,” Hanson said. “The veterans, they come and go, and next thing you know they’re forgotten.”

Hanson noted the flags could be a good outreach opportunity and help garner interest amongst veterans.

“If we can keep the veterans’ interest in it, we’re going to have more enrollment in our post too — the VFW, the American Legion and the DAV,” Hanson said.

Hanson envisions getting schools involved in some ways, and he noted the field of flags could help teach area young people to respect the flag and about flag etiquette.

“When you fold the flag, there’s like 13 different parts of that flag folding that the av-

erage person does not realize,” Hanson said. about that,” Parks and Rec Director Kim Un“We just want to teach them that when you derwood said. fold the flag into the triangle, everything has to end up blue,” Hanson said. “If you have red showing, then that’s called a bleeding flag.

We want to make sure that no red is show at all when you have that into a triangle.”

Forstner noted Austin and Mower County veteran organizations serve the entire community, not just veterans, and give back to Boy Scouts, youth clubs and other groups.

Wiechman said Austin veterans groups and the Mower County Veterans Council have talked about taking on a bigger role in maintaining the Veterans Pavilion while the city keeps ownership, similar to an adopt-apark program.

“We’re just in the infant stages of talking

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Freedom Fest to turn 30

By Jason Schoonover

A

ustin’s Fourth of July Celebration is turning 30 this summer.

The 30th annual Freedom Fest — though the celebration has gone by different names — will fall on a weekend this year from July 3 to 5.

“It’s two to three days packed of entertainment,” said Jeanine Nelson, who coordinates member relation/major event for the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce.

Family Day in Bandshell Community Park will be on July 3 and festivities continue July 4 after the parade, with the bandshell entertainment, free inflatables, the National Guard climbing wall, fireworks both nights and much more.

“There’s something for everybody to do,” Festival Director Jeff Baldus said.

New to the park this year will be an activity tent for children where area organizations and businesses will take a two-hour spot to organize an activity. So far, KSMQ, Mower County 4-H, FFA, the Austin Robotics Team, Everything Hobby and other groups have signed up.

The July 4 parade route will stick to its 2014 route, which started at Austin Utilities, 400 Fourth St. NE, and moved down Fourth Avenue Northeast before turning south onto Main Street North and running to Bandshell Community Park.

For many years, the parade started at Hormel Corporate South/the old Spam Museum, but the beginning moved to the Austin Utilities building last year during construction on North Main Street. The change proved popular with the public and chamber members, especially since some Fourth Street Businesses were open for part of the parade, according to Nelson.

“The audience I think liked it,” Nelson said.

“It was a better economic impact for our members.”

Construction will again affect the parade on Main Street, however. The chamber is asking people not to sit on along a stretch between Second and Fourth Avenues on the east side of the road where the work on the new Spam Museum will be ongoing. The cement rails blocking off the museum construction should be moved back a bit to make room for parade floats, but there likely won’t be room for spectators.

Vietnam War veterans will serve as the parade grand marshals.

The Kids Fishing Contest, the Hog Jog fivemile run and the 25-mile Dan Ulwelling Bike Race all return July 5

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ABOVE: Austin Area Commission for the Arts Executive Director Jennie Knoebel smiles as she walks during the parade on Main Street just outside the new home of the Austin ArtWorks Center last year. LEFT: Caden Joseph enjoys a Freezee along during the parade. BELOW: Eric, left, and Samantha Weis of Oronco watch the Samantha’s fishing line during the Kids Fishing Contest at East Side Lake Park in 2014. Herald file photos

Freedom Fest fireworks raffle tickets Available for $5 at the chamber or by contacting a chamber ambassador.

Tickets include $35 in coupons.

Grand Prize: $500 travel certificate to be used on any air and hotel package from Bursch Travel & Delta Vacations.

2nd Prize: $300 Freedom Gas Cards from Freedom Valu Center 3rd Prize: Toro Lawn Mower from Donkers Hometown Appliances 4th Prize: Day of Beauty by Golden Tress Day Spa 5th Prize: $100 gift card donated by Rooms & Rest - Austin Drawing will be at 8 p.m. July 4, 2015 at Bandshell Community Park.

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2015 Freedom Fest Schedule July 3

July 4

—Family Day in the park featuring free slides and rides —33rd annual Mini Piggy Fun Run, 10:45 a.m.

by Baldy’s Games, children’s activity tent, 13 food —Independence Day Parade, 11 a.m. concessions, musicians, artisans and clowns, Jaycee’s —Free slides and rides by Badly’s Games, other bandBeer Garden. shell park activities continue after —Arts and crafts show along the path, the parade.

Bandshell Community Park, 1-9 p.m.

—Ice cream social at Westminster Pre-festival events —Bingo, presented by Mower County Presbyterian Church, 2-4 p.m. — June 29-July 3: Golden Duck veterans, at the Bandshell Community free parking on July 3 and 4.

Treasure Hunt sponsored by KAUS Park pavilion, 2-9 p.m.

—Austin Fire Department water July 1, 6:30-7:30 p.m.: Hor—Kids Power Pedal Pull, Bandshell wars behind the bandshell on mel Historic Home Free Peace Community Park, registration at 4:30 Ninth Place SW, 2-5 p.m.

Garden Concert p.m.

—Bean bags tourney north of the July 1 and 2, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.: —Jaycees Street Dance, featuring bandshell, 1 p.m. registration, 2 Accentra Credit Union Children’s Miracle Network FundRhino (outdoor stage), 8 p.m. to p.m. playing time. $10 per person. raiser midnight, and JT Thompson (indoor Bring your own partner. Call Shelstage) at Torge’s Live, 1701 Fourth St. ley for more details at 507-440NW, 9 p.m.-1 a.m.

0961.

—Bingo, presented by the Mower County veterans, at Bandshell stage entertainment, 2-10 p.m.: the Bandshell Community Park pavilion, 2-8 p.m.

Food concessions and Jaycee’s Beer Garden available •Bridget’s Dance Conservatory, 2-2:30 p.m.

Bandshell stage entertainment, 1-10 p.m.: •Jane Taylor Academy of Dance, 2:45-3:15 p.m.

•Rochester Caledonian Pipe Band •Miss Sparkler/Mr. Firecracker Pageant, 3:30-5 p.m.

•Opening ceremony/flag raising, 1:15-1:45 p.m. on the bandshell stage. Open to girls and boys ages •LibertySeed Event, 1:45-2:45 p.m.

5 to 8. Registration forms available at the chamber, •Big Ben and the Brian’s, 3-4 p.m. the YMCA, or online at www.facebook.com/little•Second Edition, 4:15-5:15 p.m. misssparkler or at www.austincoc.com.

•Full Circle, 6:45-7:45 p.m.

•Adam Wayne, 5:15-6:15 p.m.

•Announcements/fireworks raffle drawings, 8-8:30 •Rush Hour, 6:30-8 p.m. p.m.

•Austin Community Band, 8:30-10 p.m.

•Austin Symphony Orchestra, 8:30-10 p.m.

•Fireworks, dusk •Fireworks, dusk

Shelley LeTendre, right, raises her arms as she and Scott Fox cross the finish of the five-mile Hog Jog at East Side Lake Park in 2014. Herald file photos

July 5

•Morning Lions Fly-In Breakfast at the Austin Municipal Airport, 7 a.m.-1 p.m.

•Hog-Jog 5-mile run at Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, 6:45-7:30 a.m. registration, 8 a.m. race time •Kids Fishing Contest at East Side Lake Park, 10 a.m. to noon •25-mile Dan Ulwelling Bike Race at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, 11 a.m. registration, noon race time LEFT: Quinton Grimley and Ella Diaz wave to the crowd after winning the Miss Sparkler/Mr. Firecracker pageant at Bandshell Community Park in 2014.

RIGHT: Jack and Kalle Akkerman check out a 1946 Chevrolet pickup at the car show of the Austin Eagles Club Summer Bash.

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ABOVE: Haily Birch of Albert Lea pushes her stroller down Fourth Avenue Northeast during the parade last year with help from her mom, Amy. LEFT: Emily Folson smiles as she watches the parade along Main Street.

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Freedom Fest parade lineup •VFW Post & Auxiliary •American Legion Post 91 - Austin •American Legion Post 146-Adams •DAV •Grand Marshals •Boy Scouts •Girl Scouts •Austin High Cheerleaders •Austin High School Marching Band •Beyond the Yellow Ribbon •American Legion Riders-Post 91 •Little Miss Sparkler •Relay for Life •Kwik Trip •Bridget’s Dance Conservatory •KSMQ •Gene’s Pedalists •Austin Alumni Band •St Mark’s Living •Casey’s •Vision 2020 •Y-Waste Removal •Tom’s Heating & A/C •Gold Cross Ambulance Service •Riverside Figure Skating Club •United South Central •Austin Jaycees •Hy-Vee •Cedars of Austin The •Hollandale Christian School •Acclaim Studio of Dance •Collision Specialists •Rochester Caledonian Pipe Band •Jane Taylor Academy of Dance •Austin ArtWorks Festival •Mayer Funeral Home •Matchbox Children’s Theatre •Walmart •Cedar River Longbeards •Austin Lions Go-Cart Unit •Mower County Sheriff •Hormel Institute-U of M •Bruins •Austin Youth Hockey •Jay C Hormel Nature Center & Friends •YMCA Gymnastics •Viking Auto Glass & Bumper

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•Albert Lea HS Marching Band •Lyle Area Cancer •Big Island Rendezvous and Festival •Walz (Tim) for US Congress •Pizza Ranch •Sterling Beauty Salon •Osman Dragon Patrol •Austin Shrine Oriental Band •Gold ‘n Plump •Pacelli Catholic Schools •Farmers Market Place •Austin Utilities •Blooming Prairie “The Stix of Fury” •Austin Ace Hardware •Veterans Memorial Car Show •300 M4 Hunger •Knights of Columbus •B&T Coaches LLC •Austin FFA •Alley Katz •Mower County 4-H •Mower County Mentoring Program •Crane Community Chapel •Home Federal Savings Bank •H&R Block •Walgreens •Power 96 & KQAQ 970 AM •Sunny’s Limousine Service •Rochester Merry Medics •Moose Lodge No. 1180 •Austin Noon Kiwanis •Lynch Livestock Inc •KAUS •Thompson Sanitation Inc •Austin Power & Sport •Southland •N.A.P.D. Never Alone Principle Defenders •Minnesota Corrugated Box •Riverland Community College •Impact Martial Arts & Fitness •Austin Community Band •International Paper •Salvation Army •Crabtree Lawn & Snow •Brownsdale Fire Department •Mapleview Fire Department •Austin Fire Department

Zoee Sorenson jumps up and down beside her brother, Ayden, after seeing Curious George on a float during the parade on Main Street Friday.

Herald file photo

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Hog Jogging on a new route Annual 5-mile race moves to nature center Austin Daily Herald

newsroom@austindailyherald.com

The 33rd Hog Jog is taking to the trails.

The Hog Jog will take runners on a new route on July 5. The start and finish of the annual 5-mile run will move from East Side Lake Park to the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. Participants will run the bike trails out to Todd Park and back to the nature center.

“It really simplifies the logistics of the route and makes it safer,” Austin YMCA Director Tedd Maxfield said.

Starting and ending the race at the nature center — also the location for the noon Dan Ulwelling Bike Race — could spur future partnerships.

Maxfield confirmed Hog Jog and Ulwelling race organizers have discussed partnering to eventually give participants the option to compete in both as a duathlon, but not plans for such a partnership are imminent.

The same chip timing system is used for both races, so the equipment won’t have to be moved.

The Hog Jog, which is US-

Wesley Ochoro of Austin raises his hand to celebrate as he nears the finish line of the five-mile Hog Jog with a first place time of 24:32 at East Side Lake Park last year. Herald file photo ATF sanctioned, starts at 8 a.m. and is sponsored by the YMCA of Austin.

The cost is $25 dollars per person and $15 for additional family members by July 4.

Race day the fee is $30. Raceday registration will be from 6:45 to 7:30 a.m. at the nature center.

Participants may register online at www.active.com or by downloading the registration brochure at www. ymca-austin.org. Race forms can be return it to the YMCA. Results will be published in the Austin Daily Herald and will be posted online at the Y’s website.

Ulwelling 25-mile bike race

On July 5, the Dan Ulwelling 25-mile Bike Race starting at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center in Austin. Registration can be completed at www.austincoc.com and is $12 by June 13 and $15 after. Race-day registration begins at 11 a.m. The race begins at noon.

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