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Fireworks and carnival rides blended with military helicopters and veterans’ organizations July 12 to create the Crowley Celebration of Freedom.
The day-long festivities at Bicentennial Park included live music, dozens of vendors, games and rides.
“It turned out great,” said Councilman Johnny Shotwell. “There was good participation, and I’m guessing there were about 5,000 people in or around the park when the fireworks went off.”
The annual event is always held the weekend after Fourth of July, but it has grown in recent years.
“It was definitely bigger, more vendors,” Shotwell said. “And of course the fireworks were great.”
Shotwell said spending time with the event’s special guest, Medal of Honor recipient Robert O’Malley, was one of the highlights of his day.
O’Malley, a Vietnam veteran, received the honor decades ago when, “facing imminent death from a fanatic and determined enemy, he steadfastly refused evacuation and continued to cover his squad’s boarding of the helicopters while, from an exposed position, he delivered fire against the enemy until his wounded men were evacuated,” according to his Medal of Honor citation.
Shotwell said he also enjoyed the day’s opening ceremonies, the parade and the Apache helicopter that added diversity to the celebration.
The city budgets about $20,000 to $25,000 for events each year, but a number of donors also contribute to the celebration, he said.
Eileen Yarborough, president of the Crowley Area Chamber of Commerce, said she had a great time at the event and was impressed by how much was going on.
“This year the vendors were spread out more, and there was just much more stuff throughout the park,” she said. “There was also a much bigger carnival.”
Cathleen Thomason, who attended the celebration with her daughter, Tiffanie, and granddaughters, Abigail and Valerie Benke, said the family had a great time, especially Valerie, who took home the gold in the baby pageant.
With her $75 in winnings, the 3-year-old went on a shopping spree and picked up a little pink couch and a pink purse after the event, Thomason said.
Yarborough said she noticed some attendees arrived a little later than usual, possibly because guests were shuttled in from parking lots in the city for the first time.
A small issue arose with the park’s new restrooms, Shotwell said. The bathrooms were installed three days before Celebration of Freedom kicked off, but they were not ready to accommodate the high volume of traffic.
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