Wakefield celebrates being 'Land of the Free'

By DAMIIAN LANG

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Wakefield - Celebrating the Fourth of July was a challenge this year in Wakefield due to construction rendering the main street inaccessible.

However, the city worked around the issue by simply rerouting its parade along other city streets, making the experience that much more intimate.

The core celebration began with a community picnic on July 3 in Sunday Lake's Eddy Park. It included live music, great food, games and other family fun. The Gogebic Range Band performed that evening in the old park pavilion, followed by the "Lightning on the Lake" fireworks show that is a huge hit throughout the region.

July 4 then started as a fun-in-the-sunny morning with the Sunday Lake Run/Walk/Stroll.

Toward noon, the U.S. Air Force flew two F-16s over Sunday Lake as people gathered below to watch.

"(The) F-16 flyover is courtesy of the Bulldogs of the 148th Fighter Wing, the Duluth-based Minnesota Air National Guard flying wing," stated a promotional announcement. "The 148th flies the Block 50 F-16CM, the most capable F-16 in the U.S. Air Force fleet. The 148th Fighter Wing is proud to be assigned over 1,000 personnel in 67 diverse career fields."

The mid-day parade featured a variety of floats, flags, cruisers, tractors and marching bands easing down residential neighborhood streets that were lined block to block with community members and folks from out of town.

"This is the best parade I've ever seen," said Julie Jetrin of Minneapolis. "Families sharing good times in their front yard watching this amazing parade."

It was a brand new experience for many, as well as a time to honor and remember the cause of the country's independence.

As the parade passed, families played cornhole in front yards or talked and picnicked on the grass. One sidewalk featured a lemonade stand.

There was a solid sense of community in the air, completely in line with this year's theme of "Land of the Free" and the promise of "an old-fashioned" celebration.

Capping off the holiday were children's games and open houses at the American Legion Post 11 and VFW Post 9084.

Earlier events included the Matt Ahonen Memorial Softball Tournament from June 28-30 and the Wakefield Historical Society's "Forchuly" open house on July 2.

The Wakefield Fourth of July celebration is made possible by the city's July 4 Committee, as well as a separate Fireworks Committee and the many volunteers associated with each.

Donations help to fund each year's events, including the costs of marching bands, the children's parade and races, float winner prizes, the concert in the park, and the fireworks.