September 12, 2009 Noon To 10:00 PM Downtown Barrington Metra Train Station
Come join us to celebrate our freedom, our way of life and the goodness of America.
The Festival is FREE for one and all and will be held RAIN or SHINE.
This family oriented festival is guaranteed to touch both heart and mind. The day will feature music, family and children's activities, food, beer garden, special guests, and will provide the opportunity to let deployed service men and women know that they are being supported back home.
2009 Event Schedule
Noon - 12:45 Opening Ceremony & Memorial Service A solemn memorial for the fallen will be held at the beginning of the Freedom Festival with a dignified wreath laying ceremony and gun salute to honor those who have given the last full measure of devotion. The Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, and the Marine Corps League participate in this ceremony. This concludes with a military flyover.
12:35 - 12:45 - 9.11 Mile Freedom Awards Presentation American flags will be presented to the top female and male winners in the 9.11 mile Freedom Run. The 1st of the 178th Infantry Battalion / 33rd Infantry Combat Brigade flew these American flags while providing important missions in Afghanistan. A special presentation will be made by our distinguished guest.
12:45 - 12:50 - Veterans Acknowledgments and Recognition of Service All military veterans will be asked to join us at our main stage so that we could recognize them.
12:50 - 1:00 - Future Soldiers Swearing In Ceremony We will have over 50 "Future Soldiers" of the U.S. Army that will be taking their enlistment oath on our main stage. The enlistment oath will be given by Major General Campbell, Commanding General, U.S. Army Recruiting Command. Be the first to congratulate them in volunteering to serve a good greater than themselves.
1:15 - 3:15 - Jamie Buckley Performs Jamie continues to proudly serve in the Army where he is assigned to the U.S. Army's Recruiting Command (USAREC). Entering his fifteenth year on Active Duty, he is being featured in a program called, "The U.S. Army Recruiting Entertainment Team featuring SFC Jamie Buckley" where he performs country music in support of the Army's recruiting mission. Jamie performs everywhere from high schools to large country music festivals all across America. He has recently performed at venues with the likes of Toby Keith, Big & Rich, Jason Aldean and Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, Brooks & Dunn and Blake Shelton. In 2009, he's scheduled for shows in the same line-ups as country superstars, Montgomery Gentry, James Otto, and Darryl Worley once again
3:15 - 3:30 Key-Note Speaker Major General Donald M. Campbell, Jr. Commanding General U.S. Army Recruiting Command Major General Donald M. Campbell Jr. is a Distinguished Military Graduate of Kansas State University. Commissioned an armor officer in May 1978, his initial assignment was with the 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor at Fort Riley, Kan., where he served as a Tank Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, Battalion S1/Adjutant and Company Commander. He assumed command of the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, in June 2001, with the “Raider Brigade” as a key element in Task Force Ironhorse operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
3:30 - 3:45 Navistar and U.S. Army Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS) Signing The Army Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS) Program provides America’s youth with an opportunity to serve their country while they prepare for their future. The PaYS program works to connect and partner civilian corporations and companies, as well as local government agencies, with the Army. The PaYS partner promises to interview the Army PaYS Soldier for this selected position as long as the Soldier receives an honorable discharge after one enlistment, is otherwise qualified, and a job vacancy exists.
3:45 - 4:15 Freedom Walk Everyone is encouraged to join and children are being asked to lead the Freedom Walk while they carry a United States flag that has flown in the U.S. Southern Command. The walk will conclude at the main stage of the Family Freedom Festival with the flag being raised. Free t-shirts for the first 200 children!More
4:15 - 4:45 Bataille Academie of the Danse: Bataille Academie of the Danse will be performing a variety of dances including tap and jazz numbers. The 60+ dancers have a special Patriotic Finale honoring our young men and women in the armed forces.
4:45 - 5:00 Youth Speaker
5:00 - 5:45 Tug of War Contest Athletes from Barrington High School's football, hockey, lacrosse, other teams, clubs and middle school student are planning to participate in our tug-of-war contest against members of the U.S. Military (Army and Marine Corps).
5:45 - 6:30 Teen Events: Battle of the Rock Bands Contest 6th, 7th and 8th Grade Student from Station and Prairie Middle Schools are planning to participate in our WII rock band championship on the main stage. These students have been competing against others students in their grade for the opportunity to represent their middle school in the Championship on our main stage again the other schools. Each team will represent a branch of our military.
7:00 - 10:00 - Libido Funk Circus Performs - Libido Funk Circus performs the very best rock, dance and party songs of the past 40 years. Capable of switching styles and genres of music at the drop of a hat, Libido Funk Circus has literally become a human jukebox. From Neil Diamond to Neil Young, from Rick Springfield to Rick James, from Tom Jones to Tommy Tutone, LFC can do it all!
Left to their own devices, Libido Funk Circus will blend 40 years worth of dance songs together into one show that is sure to please everyone from grandparents to the smallest child.
CARE VILLAGE - Open Noon to 8:00 Our festival will allow the people of Northern Illinois to meet face to face with caring people and caring organizations – so that individually we can find the right opportunity to give, support and thanks to activie duty men and women, military families, and veterans. Lean More Here.Planned events and activities include:
Care Village A village of tents as a centerpiece of the Festival provides positive interaction between the Festival attendees and organizations that offer tangible help to the men and women in uniform. If you have ever asked yourself “What can I do to help?” Here is your opportunity to learn how to support the USO, adopt a soldier on the front lines, and lots more!
Entertainment First class entertainment is coming to the Freedom Festival’s center stage that you will not want to miss.
Military Speakers To provide an update on the positive progress on the war on terrorism as well as to reinforce the importance of tangibly supporting and thanking our troops a number of military speakers will address the Festival attendees.
Military Vehicle Display You and your children will love the opportunity to walk amongst an impressive military vehicle display.
Kids Care! Children will love the Kids Care! Tent which will provide opportunities to draw pictures and write cards to the troops, while they are getting their faces painted and climbing on the inflatables that will be set up.
There is more such as the multiple food vendors and an opportunity to say “thank you” to the many active duty, veterans and military family members who will be joining the festivities. This is a day that you and your family will not want to miss.
