Organizers seek Purple Heart recipients

BISMARCK — Bismarck Fourth of July Freedom Fest organizers are still looking for residents of the Bismarck area who have been awarded the Purple Heart. The grand marshals of this year’s parade will be Bismarck’s Purple Heart veterans.

“We are going to have a float dedicated to our Purple Heart veterans,” said Joe Snyder of the Bismarck VFW Post 6947. “We need more Purple Heart veterans though.”

For more information call Joe Snyder at (573) 734-1146.

Wednesday’s festivities will begin with the parade. The parade lineup will start at 9 a.m. and the actual parade will get under way at 10 a.m. The parade will start on Veterans Drive at the Bismarck Baptist Church parking lot and will proceed east on Veterans Drive to Highway 32. The route will then make a right on Main Street and will return to Veterans Drive where it will end.

From there the scene will shift to the campus of the Bismarck School District where most of the festivities will be held.

There will be a cruise-in car show on the parking lot of PLS, across from the Bismarck school campus. Registration will take place from 9 a.m.-noon. The first 50 entries will receive dash plaques.

This year’s sand volleyball tournament will be sponsored by Project Graduation and the high school band will man the dunking booth. Registration for the volleyball tournament is under way and anyone interested should call Bismarck City Hall. The band will also sponsor a hoop shoot.

At 2 p.m. Noel Barton will hold an historic anvil shoot.

“Noel Barton holds the world record for height when it comes to anvil shoots,” said Bismarck Mayor Dennis Mayberry. “We want to thank Dixie Gunworks of Tennessee for sponsoring the anvil shoot.

Between 3-4 p.m. an air drop for kids will take place over the baseball field.

Mayberry said there is also full day of entertainment planned.

From 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Rick Wisdom and the Music Makers Band will play. At 3 p.m. Melody Makers will take the stage and from 4-4:45 p.m. Sheriff Dan Bullock and the Deputies Band will perform.

At 5 p.m. the Lost and Found Band will play and at 6 p.m. the Crosswalk Youth Worship Team will take the stage. At 7 p.m. the Mid America Gospel Music Association will play and at 8 p.m. Final Phaze will take the stage. Final Phaze band members include Mayor Dennis Mayberry, Misty Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Jodie Wilson, Troy Lincoln, Mike McGee, Warren Russell and Dennis Mayberry Jr.

“This event is loaded with activities from the start of the parade to the fireworks display at dusk,” Mayberry said. “Our fire department does a great job setting off the fireworks and our finale this year will be better than ever.”

For more information about the Freedom Fest call the Bismarck City Hall at (573) 734-2125.

Chris Cline is a reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact him at 573-431-2010, ext. 114 or at ccline@dailyjournalonline.com.