TOP STORY >> LRAFB celebrates Fourth of July

By Airman 1st Class Rusty Frank
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

The Fourth of July is a time to celebrate Independence Day and the birth of the United States of America. It’s the time of year when family and friends barbeque, watch fireworks and have fun.

This Year’s Fourthth of July Celebration on Little Rock Air Force Base took place at the base lake and featured events that families could have fun with such as the Slippery Rock Water Park, iron crafter, Air Mobility Command Icon show, and the bike parade. Due to the fire ban in the state of Arkansas, this year’s celebration didn’t include fireworks.

The Slippery Rock Water Park consisted of a bouncy castle, water slide, dunk tank, slip n’ slide, and a water park for toddlers. Kids received a punch card and if they had at least five stations punched they received a free T-shirt.

Iron crafter was a competition that was a play-off of iron chef where families and friends could make arts and crafts using a secret ingredient. The competition was broken down into three rounds. The first round was a team competition, the second was for females, and the third was for males.

The Air Mobility Command Icon show is the Air Force version of American Idol. Nine contestants participated in the show, with the first place active duty winner going to compete at the Air Force level. The winners were: Dawn Zangerle (first), Staff Sgt. Tiry Crane, 314th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (second), and Tiffany Langbehn (third).

The bike parade was held so kids could decorate their bikes and then ride through the event.

Even with no fireworks this year many families still enjoyed the celebrations provided on base.

“We are just going to hang out here (on base), enjoy the festivities, and go home and barbeque.” said Staff Sgt. Jennifer Fiandt, a 19th Force Support Squadron professional military education instructor.

“We enjoyed the Slippery Rock Water Park,” said Fiandt.

 During the Fourth of July some families also like to remember and think about the country‘s past.

 “It’s a great time to think about what we’ve accomplished as a country ... how we are bettering ourselves as a country,” said Lt. Col. Michael Nelson, 62nd Airlift Squadron commander. Nelson and his family also had a BBQ during the Fourth of July break.

The Fourth of July is a time to BBQ and to get together with family and friends. But it is also a time to celebrate independence day. Despite not having any fireworks on base families and friends of Team Little Rock still had fun at the Fourth of July celebration held at the base lake.