18th Annual Sound of Independence celebration

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher Callaway
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Despite stormy weather more than 1500 military members and families braved the rain and enjoyed the various events at the 18th Annual Sound of Independence celebration June 28 at the Soundside Marina here.

The Sound of Independence is the base's Fourth of July celebration and has traditionally been held the Friday before Independence Day for almost two decades.

"Team Hurlburt once again came through with the squadrons supporting and participating in the event and the community as a whole," said Robert Scott, 1st Special Operations Force Support Squadron community center director. "When the weather finally broke and the clouds started to clear, the Hurlburt community picked up and moved forward, resulting in a truly entertaining cardboard boat regatta and a wonderful fireworks presentation!"

Events of this size take at least three months of preparations and hundreds of support personnel to make it run, according to Scott.

Various squadrons worked a number of different support positions during the celebration such as booth set up providing food, fun and explaining all the new services Hurlburt Field has established in the last year making sure everything is ready to go for the military community to have an enjoyable experience.

"Hurlburt does a great job with all the events they hold," said Staff Sgt. Luke Schaefer, 25th Intelligence Squadron. "If there is anyone out there who hasn't experienced one yet, they are definitely missing out on something valuable the base does for its military members and families."

On a night which started off gloomy and wet it ended with more than a five-minute long fireworks display that could be seen from everyone on Hurlburt Field. The fireworks provided a beautiful ending to the 18th Annual Sound of Independence celebration.