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News Story Published On 7/5/2007 Celebrating freedom By Carrie May The small Fourth of July celebration that started nearly 20 years in Washington Park has grown. Now it includes over 6,000 free cones filled with 150 gallons of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream. "We were the first thing at Freedom Has a Birthday," Greg Jordan of the Free Masons of Laramie said Wednesday at the Washington Park celebration as he served the cones in the nearly 80 degree weather. "It really started as a family event, and now it is a great way to have a presence in the community," he added, an ice cream scoop dripping chocolate in his hand. Crowds filled with young and old people alike start forming at the free ice cream booth early, everyone looking forward to the refreshing treat. The Masons donate the cones themselves, the ice cream is donated by Meadow Gold and the freezer space is donated by Albertson's. "We've been doing this for about 17 years," Jordan said. "Sometimes people will ask us what it means to be a mason, sometimes not. But we think it is just good to be out in the community. I just like to see the smiles on people's faces." Past people in shorts and sandals, some pushing strollers and others spraying fire hoses, Barry D. Gasdek, state veterans service officer, offered cookies and valuable veterans' benefit information to anyone interested. "We are here for the veterans and their families," Gasdek said, adding that the Fourth of July Freedom Has a Birthday venue provides the state veterans' offices with the perfect opportunity to reach people. "This is what we are all about : freedom; the flag; red, white and blue. What more can you say?" Gasdek said. Nearby, Mason Hinman of Laramie said he learned that he was eligible for veteran's benefits four years ago at the state veterans booth at Freedom Has a Birthday. He served in the army from 1951-1953 during the Korean War and the benefits services he has received since, he said, have been "invaluable." "He is a testament that this booth is worthwhile," Gasdek said. Remembering America's roots at the celebration, he added, is also important. "The Fourth of July is a part of history; If those people in 1776 hadn't had the infinitesimal fortitude to do what they did back then, we'd all be speaking (British) English today," Gasdek said with a smile. Recruiting younger generations and giving away free popsicles was at the forefront of Mark Watson's mind at his Civil Air Patrol booth across the park. "Our booth is a mixture of trying to give something back to the public and also an opportunity to recruit people for our group," Watson said, side-stepping a cooler full of colorful pop-ices. The Civil Air Patrol is a United States Air Force Auxiliary group that performs search and rescue operations nationwide and provides its members with aerospace educational opportunities and cadet programs. The Laramie Civil Air Patrol local squadron has 22 members, Watson said, and welcomes both boys and girls. "Our primary missions are emergency services, aerospace education and cadet programs,"Watson said. "Our booth here gives us a presence in the community." For 15-year-old cadet Christopher Gross, being a member of the Civil Air Patrol has allowed him to train in rescue techniques and travel across the state for training and orientation flights. "I wanted to learn how to fly airplanes and save people's lives, if possible," Gross said. "(The Civil Air Patrol) gives you a chance to learn about science in a fun way." Both Gross and Watson agreed that one of the best things about having a booth at Freedom Has a Birthday is being able to give away so many free popsicles. "We've been here three years now and I think that is one of the neatest things about Freedom Has a Birthday: all the free stuff that is given away," Watson said.
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