Freedom Fest

Fireworks lit up the sky over Gentry City Park at the close of Gentry’s annual Freedom Festival on Thursday. The event is held each year in Gentry on July 4. For the full story,

GENTRY — Once again, the July 4 Freedom Festival in Gentry brought thousands to the city park to celebrate the Independence Day holiday. The crowd continued to grow all day and, by evening, the entire park, as well as surrounding streets and sidewalks, was filled with area residents and many visitors who came out to hear the music and watch one of the best fireworks displays in the region.

The national anthem was sung, and Old Glory was raised by the honor guard of American Legion Post 29 (Siloam Springs) shortly after 11 a.m. on Thursday morning. American Legion honor guard members Samuel Grimes, Larry Buckminster, Commander Stuart Reeves and Jerry Cavness, donning Legion uniforms and wearing white gloves, raised the flag and saluted it to kick off the July 4th ceremonies.

The anthem was again sung at dusk, just prior to the spectacular fireworks display over the park. And the fireworks display, set off by members of the Gentry Volunteer Fire Department, continued for nearly 20 minutes as those in attendance cheered the loud booms and the display of brilliant colors in the night sky.

The day included pageants for the selection of 2019 Little Miss Gentry, Little Mister Gentry and Miss Gentry. The winners for 2019 included Carson Holland, 5, daughter of Chris and Tiffany Holland of Highfill; Xander Frazier, 5, whose guardian is Michelle Frazier; and Falyn Cordeiro, 17, daughter of Brandy and Mike Cordeiro.

During the day, there were performances by Marshall Mitchell, cowboy singer; the Kaylin Cripps Band; Mark Shields and the Swade Diablos; the Dawn Cate Band; Healey & Cardwell; and the Ozark Mountain Daredevils.

Classic and colorful cars and trucks (even a few bicycles) lined the sidewalks on the north side of the park as exhibitors displayed their rides and had them judged in the annual car show. (Watch for the winners in a future issue of the Eagle Observer.)

Children hammered in nails and built toolboxes in a Kid’s Carpentry Shop sponsored by Meeks Lumber and Hardware, enjoyed inflatable rides, camel rides, and the Wild Wilderness Safari petting zoo. Vendors offered a wide variety of food, drinks, goodies, as well as information, to those celebrating the day in the park.

The day’s events were sponsored by the Gentry Chamber of Commerce and area businesses.

Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL

Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL Falyn Cordeiro was crowned 2019 Miss Gentry by 2018 Miss Gentry, Brently Wade, on Thursday, July 4, in the city park.

Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL 2019 pageant winners at the Gentry Freedom Festival on Thursday were Little Mister Gentry Xander Frazier, Little Miss Gentry Carson Holland and Miss Gentry Falyn Cordeiro.

Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL Trucks and cars of all makes and models were on display at Gentry’s annual Freedom Festival on Thursday.

Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL Kaylin Cripps and her band were among the performers at the Gentry Freedom Festival on Thursday, July 4.

Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL Lee Allen and Valentina Sanchez, both 4, share a camel ride at Gentry’s annual Freedom Festival on Thursday.

Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL Teancum Hubler, 4, pounds in nails on a toolbox he was finishing in the Meeks Lumber booth at the Gentry Freedom Festival on Thursday.