Gentry celebrates freedom on July 4

GENTRY — People — thousands of them — gathered in Gentry City Park on July 4 to celebrate America’s birthday. And, other than some light rain late in the afternoon, Gentry’s annual Freedom Festival was deemed a great success, with those in attendance enjoying the all-day musical entertainment, the children’s games and activities, the pageants and, of course, the huge fireworks display at dusk.

Cars lined the circle walk for the annual car show in spite of the threat of rain. Results will be published as soon as they become available.

The annual pageants were held, including the Miss Gentry pageant, which had not been held for years due to lack of contestants. Pageant results include the following:

Little Miss Gentry

— winner, Grace Hughes; first runner-up, Alayna Ahrents; and second runner up, Juliet Smartt.

Little Mister Gentry

— winner, Asa Chamberlain, first runner-up, Max Smart; Second runner-up, Tatum Manen.

Miss Gentry

— winner, Destiny Bolles; first runner-up, Whitney Holt; and second runner-up, Brookley Trammell.

Afternoon and evening music was provided by Kaitlin Carlson, Barrett Baber, Southern Traditions Bluegrass Band, River’s Edge Band and the Trumann Rail Boys.

Following the evening entertainment and just before the fireworks display, the “Star Spangled Banner” was sung over the public address system for all to hear. But, midway through the national anthem, the PA system failed. That failure didn’t stop the celebration. The crowds took over and sang the anthem until the words, “O say does that starspangled banner yet wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?” sounded in unison across the city park. Then all cheered and the fireworks display began.

Stuart Reeves, vice commander of the American Legion Post 29 honor guard (second from left), prepares to fasten and raise the U.S. flag held by Junior Ford, vice commander of Post 29, during the July 4 Freedom Festival in Gentry, accompanied by post...

Photo by Randy Moll Destiny Bolles was the winner of the Miss Gentry pageant held during the Freedom Festival at Gentry City Park on July 4.

Photo by Randy Moll Brynleigh Hauler, 6, enjoyed a camel ride offered by the Wild Wilderness Safari during the July 4 Freedom Festival in Gentry.

Photo by Randy Moll John Herrington of Gentry wipes off his Phaeton replica of a 1931 Ford during the Freedom Festival car show on July 4 in Gentry.

Photo by Randy Moll Kathy Coones leads the parade of decorated bicycles for a ride through the park during the Independence Day celebration in Gentry City Park on July 4. Kathy’s husband, Josh, brought up the back of the line.

Photo by Randy Moll Daniel Carrera, 11, pounds a nail into a toolbox he built with supplies and tools provided by Meeks Lumber in Fayetteville at the July 4 Freedom Festival in Gentry City Park.

Photo by Randy Moll Grace Hughes and Asa Chamberlain were the winners of the Little Miss Gentry and Little Mister Gentry pageants held on stage at the Gentry Freedom Festival.

Photo by Randy Moll Kaitlin Carlson, a local singer, entertains the crowd on the afternoon of July 4 at the Gentry Freedom Festival.

Photo by Randy Moll Makenzie Jech, 4, has a red, white and blue star painted on her face.