When we were stationed in Virginia I had a once-in-a-lifetime job with an event management company.

They were hired to produce several key events, including the culminating “big show” – a 3 day festival, for the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown.

There was a concert night with a few well-known musicians & artists.

There was a 1,607 voice choir made up of groups from across the country singing patriotic songs.

(Why 1,607? It was when Jamestown was founded – May 1607.)

There was a 400 piece orchestra…which believe it or not, was briefly conducted by then President Bush at the end of his speech.

The stage was enormous with a massive LED screen and incredible firework displays each of the last two nights.

And while the Queen arrived earlier than the actual event, I got to stand in a viewing line as she passed by twice – attending a play at Historic Jamestowne Island.

But none of that…and I mean none of that…compared to the experience of the event thrown for the 225th Anniversary of the Battle of Yorktown.

Military reenactors fighting battles with cannon smoke sweeping across the fields, the sounds of fife & drum corps filling the air, modern day military color guard, an F16 fly-over, a stage performance & concert…

and…

THE. BEST. Fireworks. Display. EVER!!!

It was right on top of us & seemed to last forever.

But I’m telling you all of this so you can understand why I my experience at Freedom Fest this year was disheartening - and why I’m probably not the best person to ask how it went anyway.

I’m biased.

I’ve been in the background. I’ve seen all the coordination & details that go into pulling off an event – big or small. And as I walked the festival on base for our 4th of July celebration, instead of seeing a fun, pleasurable event – which it was, don’t get me wrong - all I saw were the details.

Just as Eric points out to me all the glaring mistakes that TV & the movies make when portraying the Army or the military, I caught myself pointing out all the missed event opportunities to him.

And it’s not just a Freedom Fest thing…I can’t go to any event, again big or small, without paying attention to all the logistics, strategy, details, sound system, lighting & layout.

Experiencing 4th of July when you live overseas is a unique experience unto itself anyway. It’s almost indescribable.

But that’s what I’ve been doing the past few days…trying to find a way to convey the story of the Freedom Fest experience. For those that are here in Korea – you automatically get it without me having to go into great detail. You probably experienced the same feelings I did.

But for those at home?…

Yeah…it’s different. And it’s a story worth telling.

But it needs to be told just right.

Tomorrow.