The final preparations are being made for what organizers believe will be an amazing community celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Among the many attractions to the local Gateway 250 event will be a strong representation of the U.S. flag. A large 30 foot by 50 foot flag will be unfurled July 4 at Cunningham Field on the Montgomery County High School campus where the event is being held.
Gates for the Gateway 250-Our Hometown Celebration open at 4:30. A full line-up of activities, including live music, food trucks, a children’s area with inflatables and a special patriotic program will continue until a large fireworks show at dusk.
The event is free.
A committee overseeing the event held discussion on how exactly to display the flag at a meeting June 26. The flag belongs to the Montgomery County Fire Dept. and can be seen every year at the Run for the Wall event.
The entrance to the field will be lined with flags borrowed from Mapleton and Camargo elementary schools. Small flags will also be handed out to visitors at the event.
There is also entertainment throughout the day featuring several bands. The lineup includes the Young at Heart Big Band, 75 Split, Dead Air Dennis with Bryan Himes, Billie Renee and Cumberland Gap and Nero’s Fiddle. There will also be a special appearance by the 202nd Army Band from the Kentucky National Guard.
Committee member Barry Frazier said a video tech will show videos from more than 50 veterans on overhead screens.
There will be a children’s area with eight inflatables.
People in costume will take on the roles of several prominent individuals from the nation’s history. There will be a large quilt display at the Arena.
Combat veteran Joey Bates is slated to be the keynote speaker. Bates is a Purple Heart recipient and U.S. Marine Corps vet as well as a University of Kentucky doctoral student.
Bates served 17 years and completed five deployments. He survived a devastating terrorist attack that nearly claimed his life in Somalia.
Commemorative coins will sold, as well as T-shirts if any remain available, Tourism Director Tracy Pearce said. They have been selling quickly. You can call the tourism office at 859-498-8732 to purchase one.
Several food vendors will have items for sale.
The MCHS sophomore class recently agreed to provide hamburgers and hot dogs for sale at the event.
There will be bleacher seating available and participants are encouraged to bring blankets for the field. Lawn chairs will be permitted outside the football field area. Coolers are allowed, but alcohol is not permitted. No glass bottles are allowed.
The event is being made available for free through generous public donations.
Be sure to check out the Advocate next week for full coverage and our website, www.msadvocate.com, for video coverage.
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