Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The nation’s largest free-flying American flag was raised on the midway at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds Friday as part of the three-day Freedom Fest to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday.
Kosciusko County America 250 Coordinator Mike Loher said the flag was raised by 11 a.m. Friday. It took about an hour to raise the flag, with the cranes getting to the fairgrounds and getting them set in place. The flag will be up all weekend during Freedom Fest, weather permitting.
The flag is 65 feet by 125 feet and is larger than a basketball court. Loher saw the flag at an antique tractor show in Rantoul, Ill., and “this flag all by itself is an attraction and I thought, we’re celebrating America’s birthday, let’s go big. And there isn’t a better way to do that than the largest flag in the nation.”
Paul Aldridge, United Veterans of America, said United Veterans of America has taken American flags to various events, mainly veteran-related events, since 1987. They have upgraded the flags they have had and made them bigger over the years. The one they brought to Freedom Fest has been in existence for about eight years. He thinks having the big flags came about with his organization in order to help draw people to events.
“Our goal is for every American to have pride in that flag. And I think events like this where they can come out see” the flag helps with that, Aldridge said, adding he’s seen the flag go up hundreds of times and it gets him every time.
Loher said having the flag at the fairgrounds brings a “wow” factor to Freedom Fest because people will be able to see the flag for miles “and just the sheer size of this is pretty amazing.”
Loher said he hopes people come out to the fairgrounds this weekend and see the flag and it makes them think about all the people that work tirelessly to keep the nation free.
Schedule Of Events
On Saturday, from 7 to 10 a.m., the Wheels on Fire Community Breakfast will be at the HFA Building’s north end. At 7 a.m., the LITE Recovery 5K registration will begin at the HFA Building’s south end, with the race starting at 8 a.m.
At 8 a.m., the Freedom Fest parade will start lining up at Boggs Park. At 10 a.m., the Freedom Fest parade will go down West Center Street to Bronson Street to the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds main entrance.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, the Historic Village will be open. From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., vendors and food trucks will be open on the midway. At 12:30 p.m. there will be Thomas Jefferson and Abigail Adams reenactors and a frontier loyalist presentation at the log cabin.
At 1:30 p.m., there will be a veterans ceremony on the midway. Loher said there will be guest speakers and performers.
There is tentatively a scheduled flyover by the Air Force at 1:40 p.m. Saturday.
From 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, there will be a kids tractor driving experience by Echoes of the Past.
At 3 p.m., there will be a beard and mullet contest, as well as log sawing by Echoes of the Past.
At 3:30 p.m., there will be reenactors performing. At 4 p.m., there will be homemade ice cream by Echoes of the Past. At 4:30 p.m. there will be a drum and song circle at the Historical Village. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will be a car and jeep show on the midway.
At 6:30 p.m. Saturday, the grandstand concert will begin. Darryl Worley will perform, supported by Jason Michael Carroll and Keenie.
On Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Historic Village, vendors and food trucks will be open. At 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., there will be reenactors. At 1 p.m., there will be homemade ice cream by Echoes of the Past. At 1:30 p.m., there will be a drum and song circle at the Historical Village.
Beyond this weekend, there will be a reading of the Declaration of Independence at 5:30 p.m. July 8 at Warsaw City Hall, which is being done in conjunction with the America 250 program.
