“A Patriotic Fourth” combines American history and family fun 

Columbus, Georgia – June 12, 2013: The National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center will be hosting its first ever community-wide Independence Day celebration on Thursday, July 4, 2013. The afternoon will be filled with music, kids’ activities, historical reenactments, food and fun.

“When we heard WTVM was discontinuing its popular Thunder on the Hooch celebration, we decided it was a good time to step up and offer families a new venue for enjoying the holiday,” National Infantry Foundation President Ben Williams said. “Fort Benning does a great job with its weekend celebration, but we wanted to give people something special to do on the holiday itself.”

The fun starts at 11 a.m., with live performances by the Maneuver Center of Excellence bands. The Rock, Latin and Ceremonial bands will perform in front of the museum until 2 p.m. Country singer/songwriter Tim Maggart will take the stage at 2:30 p.m. with the Neal Lucas Band, and the patriotic music video he recently shot at the National Infantry Museum will debut in the IMAX Theatre. Lady Jayne and Cedar Creek bands will close out the afternoon. Throughout the day, kids will enjoy bounce houses, face painting and balloon animals. A new, temporary, Civil War exhibit will be displayed. Re-enactors will fire two large cannons twice each hour and pose for pictures with visitors. World War II Company Street and the Memorial Walk of Honor will be open for self-guided tours. The IMAX Theatre will be the perfect place to cool off, showing Maggart’s music video, vintage World War II cartoons and newsreels. There will be birthday cake in the lobby and visitors can purchase ice cream, barbecue plates, chicken sandwiches, hot dogs and drinks from our vendors. The Fife and Drum restaurant and the IMAX concessions stand will be open for diners who’d rather stay indoors.

The National Infantry Foundation’s Premier Partners – Aflac, Amos-Cheves Foundation, Global Payments, TSYS, Navy Federal Credit Union, W.C. Bradley, Hughston Clinic, Jay Auto and St. Francis Hospital – are the event’s sponsors. WTVM is the event’s Media Sponsor.

The museum’s galleries will close at 5 p.m. Visitors will be encouraged to head to Phenix City for a concert by the Jonathan and Lisa Moore Band at 7:30 p.m. in the amphitheater and fireworks following at dark.