Infantry Museum Freedom Fest draws big crowd

On a sweltering Monday afternoon, thousands gathered at the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center on the edge of Fort Benning for Freedom Fest, an annual Fourth of July festival.

For the Guzman family of Phenix City, this was big fun — and a way for Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Guzman to make a statement to his two children about the importance of Independence Day.

“I want them to have pride and be proud of who they are and where they come from,” said the Fort Benning drill sergeant.

And he also wanted Daniel Jr., 9, and his little sister, Sienna, 3, to have a little fun. They spent Sunday night decorating a red wagon for the “Pint-Sized Patriots Parade.

And the work paid off as they finished first in the Patriotic Division.

“We just love this,” said Scarlet Guzman, as she watched her son pull the wagon toward the parade field behind the museum.

As Sienna enjoyed the ride in the sweltering heat she was holding her “deployment doll,” which had a picture of her father on it.

“It really is nice to be here with my family for the Fourth and not be deployed,” Guzman said.

More than 5,100 people attended the day-long events at the National Infantry Museum, said spokeswoman Cyndy Cerbin. The activities included free music, food and drink — lots of water in the nearly 100-degree weather — and tours of the museum and World War II Street.

This year marked the first time that attendees had to clear a full security checkpoint to enter the festival grounds surrounding the museum. Bags were searched and larger bags were not allowed. People also had to be checked for metal with wands by the security team.

But it did nothing to dampen the patriotic spirit.

Four members of the Silver Wings, Fort Benning’s jump team, brought the Georgia and American colors onto the parade field. Staff Sgt. Matt Thompson of Norman, Okla., had the honor of jumping with the 800-square-foot American flag.

As Thompson hit his mark, others rushed to keep the flag from touching the ground.

“You can feel the crowd,” said Thompson, who has made more than 1,500 jumps. “As soon as it drops, I can typically already hear them in the air and I can feel them. It is a real big honor to be in that position.”

It is the fourth time he has jumped with the American flag and the first time he has jumped with it on the Fourth of July.

“It is unreal,” he said. “It was the Fourth of July and I was not supposed to be the one to come in with it. I was going to be the team leader. I was pretty excited about it.”

This story was originally published July 4, 2016 at 2:58 PM with the headline "Infantry Museum Freedom Fest draws big crowd."