Posted 4:40 p.m. Friday, March 9, 2012
[caption id="attachment_1737" align="alignright" width="320" caption="2011 Live Steve Miller Band concert action shot by Kim Miller."]
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The 2012 Freedom Fest celebration has attracted some big music talent, including Steve Miller Band and Foreigner.
The annual event to honor veterans will be Saturday, June 16, at UW-L’s Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. As the event has grown over the years, organizers have been able to attract bigger entertainers, says Tina Kuhle, director of annual giving for the UW-L Foundation. The event has grown from 1,200 attendees in 2008 to 6,000 last year.
"The enthusiasm of veterans, fans and our generous sponsors are building Freedom Fest into a premiere event for the region — Steve Miller Band and Foreigner take us to a new level,” says Al Trapp, president of the UW-L Foundation.
All Freedom Fest proceeds benefit veterans causes, including the Veterans Hall of Honor, a tribute memorial inside UW-L’s Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex and a scholarship fund for veterans who wish to further their education at any UW System school.
To date Freedom Fest has raised about $296,000 for veterans causes and has distributed $60,000 in scholarships to veterans.
Other performances during Freedom Fest include a favorite regional band, The Remainders, and the 451st Army Band, part of the 88th Regional Readiness Command, stationed at Fort McCoy.
Musical performances are preceded by the morning’s Freedom Fest Motorcycle Ride, a commemorative motorcycle trek that spans roughly 100 miles through the Coulee Region. Last year’s event set a record with more than 200 bikers participating in the three-hour ride. The day concludes with a fireworks show at 10:15 p.m.
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The 2012 Freedom Fest celebration has attracted some big music talent, including Steve Miller Band and Foreigner.
The annual event to honor veterans will be Saturday, June 16, at UW-L’s Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. As the event has grown over the years, organizers have been able to attract bigger entertainers, says Tina Kuhle, director of annual giving for the UW-L Foundation. The event has grown from 1,200 attendees in 2008 to 6,000 last year.
"The enthusiasm of veterans, fans and our generous sponsors are building Freedom Fest into a premiere event for the region — Steve Miller Band and Foreigner take us to a new level,” says Al Trapp, president of the UW-L Foundation.
All Freedom Fest proceeds benefit veterans causes, including the Veterans Hall of Honor, a tribute memorial inside UW-L’s Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex and a scholarship fund for veterans who wish to further their education at any UW System school.
To date Freedom Fest has raised about $296,000 for veterans causes and has distributed $60,000 in scholarships to veterans.
Other performances during Freedom Fest include a favorite regional band, The Remainders, and the 451st Army Band, part of the 88th Regional Readiness Command, stationed at Fort McCoy.
Musical performances are preceded by the morning’s Freedom Fest Motorcycle Ride, a commemorative motorcycle trek that spans roughly 100 miles through the Coulee Region. Last year’s event set a record with more than 200 bikers participating in the three-hour ride. The day concludes with a fireworks show at 10:15 p.m.