July 4th

The City of Lebanon presents 4^th of July Celebration

Flags, Food, Live Entertainment and Fireworks top the Lebanon Fourth of July Celebration schedule.

Mark your calendars for a day of family fun at the City of Lebanon Fourth of July Celebration at the James E. Ward Ag Center, 945 E. Baddour Parkway. City of Lebanon Mayor Bernie Ash has announced the schedule for the Fourth of July activities that features food, flag display, live entertainment, classic cars, motorcycle exhibits and of course fireworks.

“The celebration activities begin mid-morning and last through the fireworks sponsored by the City of Lebanon that begin about 9 p.m.,” said Mayor Ash. “This will be a full day with something for everyone to enjoy. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs and be ready to have a great time.”

Here are the day’s events and times.

“The Field of Flags will be a very visible center piece of the celebration,” Mayor Ash notes. Clyde O. Bratton American Legion Post 15 is sponsoring the Field of Flags and is partnering with Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 5015, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) Post 1004, and the Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America Inc. (AVVA) to create a display of 160 American flags standing in front of the Ag Center at the main entrance. Sale of the flags raises funds for the four veterans organizations to use in assisting veterans in obtaining veteran benefits and in paying rent and utility bills.

The flags can be bought by individuals and by corporate sponsors. A newly packaged poly/cotton 3x5 foot flag is $20, a triangular display box for the flag is $30 and a flag kit of a flag mounted on an 8-foot ¾-inch capped staff is $40. Flags can also have a laminated dedication ribbon to honor or remember an individual. Military service is not required for a dedication. Corporate sponsorship levels are Recruit Level at $150 for three flag kits, Trooper at $300 for five flag kits, NCO at $500 for 10 flag kits, Officer at $1,000 for 25 kits and General at $2,500 for 50 flag kits. The Field of Flags will open at 12:30 p.m. July 2 and remain through the evening fireworks on July 4. For further information contact Harold Weist at (615) 754-5441 or grnmarine@tds.net

American Legion Post 15, VFW Post 5015, VVA Post 1004, and AVVA, Inc. will sell barbecue at the pavilion and serve drive up to-go orders at the entrance to the Ag Center. The menu includes one pound boxes of barbecue pork or beef, individual pork or beef sandwiches and plate lunches of pork or beef with cole slaw and baked beans. The one pound boxes will be available starting at 8 a.m. Plate lunches will be available for eat-in dining in the pavilion starting at 10 a.m. “We’ll serve as long as the barbecue lasts,” says Bob Haley.

Additional food vendors will be on the grounds throughout the day with great burgers, tacos and other specialties.

Cruise memory lane at the Classic Car Show by the Good Wheel Cruisers Car Club. Competition registration opens at 9 a.m. with judging starting at 12 noon. There is an entry fee of $20 per vehicle. Trophies donated by O’Reilly Auto Parts will be awarded to the winners of each category. To enter or for more information about the car show contact Bill Cook at (615) 499-8192.

Also CMT Abate will display 30 motorcycles and promote motorcycle safety.

From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fiddler’s Grove Historic Village will be open, giving visitors the opportunity to connect with local history. There will be patriotic and military displays and activities in the Veterans’ Building and the Maneuvers Building. The Lebanon City Police will also sponsor equipment displays.

The day’s musical entertainment begins at 3 p.m. with the Tresa Street Band in the pavilion. They will perform until 6 p.m.