Festival Board of Trustees give decades of service to community
J.R. Martinez speaks during 2014 America's Freedom Festival's Stadium of Fire at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Friday, July 4, 2014. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Children sing from the stands during Hope of America at the Marriott Center at BYU in Provo on Thursday, April 16, 2015. Over six thousand students from 78 school sin Utah County participate in the annual two-night event. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Collectively the members of the Board of Trustees of America’s Freedom Festival have served for approximately 260 years.
In that time they have seen many changes and improvements to the annual festival. Like molding a big ball of sculpting clay, these festival leaders have built a monument to patriotism and put America’s Freedom Festival on the national map. “National Geographic” has called it the place to be on July 4.
The board member names are familiar; David A. McDougal, Carl Bacon, Lothaire E. Bluth, Alan Osmond, Steven R. Shallenberger, and executive director Paul Warner. Together they have built the festival with help from a strong rotating executive board and committee chairs. Some of those chairs have been around as long or longer than the board.
While the Freedom Festival is a well-oiled machine that can brag about being one of the largest Fourth of July Celebrations in the United States, that notoriety came with a lot of sweat, hard work, a lot of smiles and tears and thousands of volunteers.
“In the relatively short time that I have had the honor to associate with the other members of our Freedom Festival board and volunteers, I’ve come to be inspired by these hundreds of individuals who have a great love for our nation and the values on which we were founded, said festival president Jim Evans in his 2015 president’s message.
“These dedicated friends are committed to providing us with experiences throughout the festival that strengthen our commitment to freedom and help us remember our heritage.”
Carl Bacon said his involvement with the Fourth of July celebrations go back to 1975 or earlier. He had a neighbor, Sam Brewster, who asked him to serve on a committee — that was 40 years ago.
“We certainly hope people will become involved with the volunteers and continue the traditions we’ve started,” Bacon said. “One thing I like is the emotion we create for the love of country. I want my family to never forget, that’s what we should be doing.”
Bacon said one of his favorite moments was during the Iraq war. The festival had made arrangements to bring a soldier home as a surprise for his family.
“Sean Hannity was on the stage asking one of the little boys what he wanted for his birthday that was coming up,” Bacon said. “There walking right down the middle aisle comes his big brother. I’ll never forget the feeling. No eyes were dry.”
Bacon said the festival has survived criticism and controversy, and it’s still here. The trustees will continue to bring new people into the organization and get them well trained so when the time comes to pass the leadership baton, there will be a smooth transition.
The Freedom Festival took a big leap when then-Provo Mayor George Stewart and the festival board agreed it was time to privatize the organization.
“When we went private it was to help maintain the strength, health and financial resources,” said board member David A. McDougal. “We were able to raise money we couldn’t before.
“I don’t believe you could have this activity in very many places than Provo, because it’s so volunteer driven. This is such a giving people. The only way we could have survived is with generous sponsors.”
McDougal said it takes persistence. “There have been years we’ve lost a chuck of money. All you do is continue to raise money until the bills are paid.”
Ask McDougal about his favorite memories and he starts reeling off names like Betty Mahmoody, Teddy Kollek, David M. Kennedy and others, people who have had an impact on the world and they have all come to Provo.
“We are celebrating like John Adams admonished us to,” McDougal said.
He remembers hearing Sean Hannity on his radio show on a Monday morning talk about his time at the Freedom Festival the days before as he was riding down the Grand Parade route.
“He said, ‘Never have I been in a place with so much patriotism. . . never have I seen so many big families, and so many happy families.'” McDougal said.
McDougal also gave a shout out to the national advisory board for their continual support, guidance and involvement in the festival.
While circumstances may call for changes and tweaks, McDougal and his fellow trustees are hoping to build a legacy, train up new leaders and keep the public coming back year after year to celebrate in a way no other community celebrates Independence Day.