Let Freedom Ring
It's a Butler tradition that will stay alive because everyone is willing to pitch in.
The Freedom Celebration will keep Butler Memorial Park bustling July 4.
"It's going to be a full day from 11 (a.m.) to 4 (p.m.)," said Joe Mudrick of Butler Township.
Mudrick, who is a member of Butler Street Machine Association, said because of personal concerns and health problems among members of the planning committee, the celebration was endangered.
"It didn't look like this was going to happen," he said.
So he stepped up and started making calls. He and others sent messages to people who had helped with events in the past. They agreed to do it again this year.
"Everyone sort of did their part," he said. So, people will be sunk in a dunk tank and children will munch on hot dogs.
The day's schedule looks like this:
• Boccie from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Taekwondo demonstration from 12:30 to 1 p.m.
• Magician 1 to 1:30 p.m.
• Disc jockey noon to 4 p.m.
• Bingo noon to 4 p.m.
All day long there will be children's games, face painting, watermelon seed spitting contests, water balloon toss, Chinese auction, 50/50 raffle, the dunk tank, a drawing for a bicycle, a balloon maker, and a car show with the car association.
Amy Tebay of the Salvation Army in Butler said this is the first year that her organization will provide the All-American meal. A hot dog, bag of chips and drink will be available all day long for $1.50.
She is expecting about 1,200 people to attend during the day.
The city is coupling the events in the park with those in Pullman Park, said Butler Mayor Maggie Stock.
There, the Butler BlueSox will take on the Lorain County Ironmen in a 2:05 p.m. start. The band Full Circle will perform a free concert in the park at 7:30 p.m. sponsored by Butler County Community College. Concessions will be available.
The evening will wrap up with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Pennsylvania American Water, Bronder Technical Services, Butler Health System, Kelly Chevrolet, and the law firm of Dillon, McCandless, King, Coulter and Graham stepped up to sponsor that show.
The Freedom Celebration committee took over planning and sponsoring the city's Fourth of July programming a dozen years ago after funding cuts. The volunteer committee has kept the celebration family friendly.
"We were lucky enough to put everything together," Mudrick said.
