WOOSTER’S BIGGEST EVENT OF THE YEAR IS HERE!
City of Wooster’s Annual INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION!
SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2023; gate opens at 5pm; Patriotic Program 8pm; FIREWORKS will follow!
Come join us as we celebrate the signing and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence of 1776, ending in Fireworks, as tradition since the first annual celebration, held on July 4, 1777 in Pennsylvania when each ship’s cannon fired a 13-gun salute (in honor of the 13 colonies). The celebration included festivities, an elegant dinner, a military demonstration, and a performance by a Hessian band. The EVENING POST reported, “and at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks (which began and concluded with 13 rockets) on the Commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated.”
Enjoy these delicious foods from our vendors:
Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Ribs & Sides, Smoked Sausages, Smoked Turkey Legs, Buffalo Wings, Fajita Steak Nachos, Chicken Nachos, Hamburgers & Hotdogs, Strawberry Shortcake, Cherry Fluff Dessert & MORE!
Enjoy from our Kettle Cooking Vendor:
Fried Pork Skins, Kettle Popcorn, Lemonade Shake-ups
and….KONA ICE!!! Also for the kids…our City Park’s playground equiped with Swings, a Slide, Monkey Bar House, & More… on the other side…. Bouncy inflatable fun with a Patriotic Obstacle Course… Games & Prizes for the Kids. Don’t forget our basketball court, bring your basketball!
and….a Cake Walk (Cakes & Pies)! Cakes & Pies freshly made by our Women’s Ministries from some of our local churches, TBA.
Enjoy Soft Rock, Classic Country, & Delta Blues, throughout, by our musicians based out of Branson, Missouri…. Cookie Lee & Rule #1, BUT, when they are here in Wooster, they are Cookie Lee & The Sweet “T”‘s… because our very own, Tommy Lynn Browning jumps in! Beautiful Music, Great Entertainers!!!
and…while you’re doing all of this… check out a special vendor, all the way from London (Arkansas!)… she makes & sells ANIMAL CLOTHING FOR ALL YOUR PETS! from swimsuits to tuxedos… take home & dress your pets!
Then, there is what we all have been waiting for… The Patriotic Program with its Flag Ceremony, preluded before our “grand exhibition of fireworks” when our city park is “beautifully illuminated”!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
5PM – GATES OPEN
6:30PM – CHILDREN’S GAMES & PRIZES
7PM – CAKEWALK
8PM – PATRIOTIC PROGRAM
FINALE: FIREWORKS EXTRAVAGANZA!
PATRIOTIC PROGRAM
Intro: TBA
Welcome MAYOR TERRY DON ROBINSON…..City of Wooster
Prayer…..PASTOR FREDDIE MARK WILCOX…..LifeSong Baptist Church
“MOMENT OF SILENCE”for Justice of the Peace Dist 12 & Gerald”Jerry”Boyer, AIRMAN, U.S. AIRFORCE
Military Branch Songs…..DON BRAZILE & Members of the CONWAY MEN’S CHORUS
PRESENTATION OF COLORS…..LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE HONOR GUARD
Pledge to our U.S. Flag…..FAULKNER COUNTY JUDGE ALLEN DODSON
Our National Anthem…..DON BRAZILE & Members of the CONWAY MEN’S CHORUS
Pledge to our Arkansas Flag…..STATE REPRESENTATIVE STEPHEN MEEKS
RETIREMENT OF COLORS.….LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE HONOR GUARD
“GOD BLESS the U.S.A.”…A Patriotic Hymn of our own tradition…LEE GREENWOOD (on CD)
Pledge to our Christian Flag…..PASTOR KEITH HICKS…..WOOSTER 1st BAPTIST CHURCH
Pledge to our POW Flag…..Colonel Conrad Reynolds (ret.) U.S. ARMY
“MOMENT OF SILENCE” TO HONOR THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIFE PROTECTING OUR FLAG, OUR COUNTRY, OUR FREEDOM. ALL FOR US.
“TAPS“…..LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE HONOR GUARD
GRAND FINALE: FIREWORKS EXTRAVAGANZA!
The City of Wooster has many to thank …
our Special Guests & Speakers, (in order of appearance):
Mayor Terry Robinson
Pastor Freddie Mark Wilcox
Don Brazile, 501 Life & Members of Conway Men’s Chorus
Little Rock Air Force Base Honor Guard
Faulkner County Judge Allen Dodson
State Representative Stephen Meeks
Pastor Keith Hicks
Colonel Conrad Reynolds (ret.) U.S. ARMY
our Vendors, Participants, & Helpers (in no certain order):
James Fields, Owner: JF Eatery
Joseph Childers, Owner: Smoke and Flame BBQ Catering Co
Ray Pruitt, Owner: AlRay’s “Kettle Cooking”
Amelia Biggs, Owner: “Animal Clothing” for your pets
Kona Ice
Will Atkins, Owner: Conway Bounce House
Cookie Lee & The Sweet “T”‘s
Tommy Lynn Browning
Donald Brazile, Co-Owner: 501 Life
Colonel John Samuhel (ret.) U.S. Air National Guard
Pleasant Valley Baptist Church-Women’s Ministry
Cindy (Burnett) Beckman
Lauralee (Wilcox) McCool
Larry Oaks
Casey Helfrich, Premier Pyrotechnics, Inc
Brett Glover, FWS (Fireworks Shooter)
Chief Clint Harper & Wooster Volunteer Fire Dept
Mark Mahan, Faulkner County Deputy Coroner & NLRFD
Sheriff Tim Ryals & Faulkner County Sheriff’s Dept & Reserves
our City’s Employees (alpha order):
Eric Havens, Wastewater Supt & LPI (Licensed Plumbing Inspector)
Taylor Havens, Water Supt & LPI
Lamar King, Wastewater Operator & LPI
Jason Presley, Water Operator & LPI
Donna Pruitt, Financial Director
Lisa Vaden, Clerk/Liaison/Sec to Mayor Robinson
And to our sponsors, for their continued support; for without their support, this event would not be possible (in no certain order & there are more to come…)
Gary Walicki
Patton Mini Storage
River Valley Winwater
Penn Engineering & Technical Service LLC
Browning’s Welding
Central Arkansas Dust Control, Inc
Legacy Termite
Oaks Brothers
Oaks Brothers Holding
Greg Schichtl
Springhill Tire
DT Enterprises
Henard Utilities
AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE FOLKS WHO COME THAT MAKE THIS CELEBRATION WORTH HAVING, FOR AS THE FIRST WORDS OF THE PREAMBLE OF OUR CONSTITUTION SAY…”FOR, WE, THE PEOPLE…
As you should know, the City of Wooster values patriotism. The City of Wooster is proud to be part of the United States, the state of Arkansas, the county of Faulkner. The City of Wooster is thankful & grateful to God for all the many blessings He has given us, our great Nation, the people of this great nation who dedicated their lives to keep us free. Thank you to all the men & women who have ever served in our Military since the beginning through now and our future!
poster/flyer, courtesy of Cindy Beckman
article, Lisa Vaden
PLEDGES
PLEDGE TO THE AMERICAN FLAG:
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”
PLEDGE (SALUTE) TO THE ARKANSAS FLAG:
“I salute the Arkansas Flag with its diamond and stars. We pledge our loyalty to thee.”
PLEDGE TO THE CHRISTIAN FLAG (popular version):
“I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag and to the Savior for whose kingdom it stands, one Savior, crucified, risen, and coming again with life and liberty to all who believe.”
PLEDGE TO THE POW MIA FLAG:
“I pledge allegiance, honor, and respect for the prisoners of war and those who have fought and struggled gallantly to defend and protect our country and our freedom. Some have been released from the prison of torture and pain to the ultimate peace of God. Others, while released from prison camps, are living prisoners to pain and a tortured mind. We salute each of you with our prayer of “Thanks and Gratitude” for giving your all, that we might know freedom and love, and continue to fight for these.”