Flooding Impacted This Year’s Schedule Many Activities Planned for July 3 Brownville Freedom Celebration

Written by Nemaha County Herald Wednesday, 30 June 2010 18:52

Freedom Celebration, 2010, will be hosted by Brownville, Nebraska on Saturday, July 3. A small-town U.S.A. community will welcome hundreds to her village to celebrate our nation’s freedom, according to information presented by Bob Chitwood. It all begins with over 200 racers and walkers taking to the streets at 7:00 AM. This 5K, 10K and half-marathon event will be started by 2009 Mrs. Nebraska, Jennifer Hart of Gretna. Paul Fish and JoAnn Dunn oversee this race event.The Town Hall will host the traditional breakfast at 8:00 AM sponsored by the Christian and Methodist churches. This free-will offering breakfast has become a traditional favorite.Sponsoring the 9:00 AM Dog Show are David and Jan Wright. This contest is led by Jan McMullen with everyone’s dog being a winner. Find your way to the east lawn by the Lyceum for this fun event.The Grand Parade will begin at 10 a.m. with the Civil War Cannon Blast at the corner of 6th and Main Streets. This parade takes place on Main Street from 6th and Main to 1st Streets. JoAnn Dunn or Shane Sailors are the people to contact for entry in this year’s parade. The Grand Marshals are Tom and Betty Palmerton. Tom is an artist/sculptor of longstanding artistic reputation living in Brownville. Mrs. Nebraska, 2009, Jennifer Hart will be a parade participant along with her family. Following the patriotic service you may meet her at the 1860 Brown/Carson House for pictures and autographs. The parade judges will select the 2010 Ugly Vehicle and award the winner with the trophy at the noon luncheon in the Town Hall. Color Guard, scouts, rescue and fire personnel from Brownville and neighboring towns, motorcycles, vintage cars and tractors, floats, pets, children’s entries, saddle clubs, Brownville trolley are but some of the participants in this year’s parade.Following the parade, people will gather at Boettner Park for the traditional patriotic service. Participants in the 11 a.m. program will include Pastors Art Chapin and Ruth Henderson; musicians—Jody Anderson, Dr. Charles Anderson, Janae Hohbein, Ryan Thomas and the Village Theater Quartet. The Offutt AFB Color Guard will take part and Bill Hayes will recite the “Gettysburg Address”. A veteran’s tribute/comments will be offered by Bob Sailors of Brownville and Major Stu Rinkleff, Brownville native and current officer at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Also, recognition of the 2010 Miss Independence and Mr. Firecracker will take place, the audience will sing “God Bless America”, there will be a salute by Auburn American Legion Post #23, and Taps by Dr. Charles Anderson.The luncheon will be hosted by the Brownville Fire and Rescue Squad in the Town Hall from 11:45-1:00 PM.The Children’s Tractor Pull, led by Ken Myers of Lenox, Iowa, will need participants registering at noon with the contests beginning at 12:30 PM. Awards to the different age groups will be presented.The Freedom Celebration can’t happen without the sounds of the Southeast Nebraska Community Band under the direction of Tom Osborne. These southeast Nebraska musicians bring the patriotic tunes to life. Due to the Missouri River flooding the concert will be held at 1:00 PM on the west lawn of the Christian Church at 6th and Main Streets.Charlotte Endorf of Norfolk, Nebraska will present “Fragile Excess Baggage” at the Town Hall at 2:00 PM. Her unique presentation on the “Orphan Train” will bring history to the present. This session is sponsored in part by the Nebraska Humanities Council.The musical, “Snoopy” by the Brownville Village Theater troupe at 2:00 PM will be a treat for all attendees. Be sure to reserve a seat by calling 825-4121 for reservations!“Recycled,” an old-fashioned string band, will perform from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the Town Hall.Brownville Historical Society members will sponsor a barbecue at 5:30 p.m. Serving is at the Town Hall.At 7 p.m. “Grand Prize,” a comedy, will be performed at the Brownville Village Theatre.The Fireworks on the Missouri River for 2010 has been cancelled due to the Missouri River flooding. Organizers apologize for this change but the conditions on and near the river are too dangerous this year. The Brownville community welcomes you to spend July 3 at this traditional Freedom Celebration.