NEWS
The City of Hobart Celebrates Successful Event Honoring Military
For Immediate Release: May 24, 2018
The General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum and the City of Hobart hosted their 10th annual Celebration of Freedom May 18-19. The Celebration of Freedom is a festival honoring servicemen and women while entertaining the community with a silent auction, games, live music and more.
The 10th annual Celebration of Freedom was the most successful to date. On Friday, May 18, more than 100 people attended the Friends of the Museum dinner and live auction. The event was highlighted by Hobart’s own Hope Hancock, Four Star Leadership alumna, speaking on behalf of the program. Stephen and Debbie Boyd were presented with certificates of appreciation for their work educating students across the state with the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum Mobile Museum and Roadshow and Kristie Jackson, Kody Suanny and Emmy Stricker from Great Plains Youth and Family Services also received certificates of appreciation for their work with families and children in Kiowa County.
Golf Scramble
Hosted by the Hobart Grapplers wrestling team, the Freedom Fest Golf Scramble was held at the Hobart Municipal Golf Course. Winners of the Golf Scramble were Derek Blevins, TJ Wilson, Colin Stork and Clint Cook.
Horseshoe Tournament
Hobart Farm and Garden hosted this year’s Horseshoe Tournament at the Hobart Municipal Golf Course where Kellan Smith and Paxton McCormick team were the champions.
Skeet Shoot
Colton Hanna won the Skeet Shoot hosted by the Hobart Gun Club, while Allen Hanna and Rex McCombs tied for second place.
Lil’ Mr. and Miss Pageant
Always a fan favorite, the children’s pageant was hosted by Great Plains Youth and Family Services. In the newborn to 12 months category, winners were Kitson “McCrae” Risley, daughter of Nick and Cassie Risley, and Ledger Herbst, son of Shelby Tate and Micah Herbst. In the 1 to 2-year-old category the winners were Rowyn Martin, daughter of Jarrod and Katelyn Martin, and Rafe Frye, son of Ashley and Jimmy Frye. Rounding out the competition in the 3 to 4-year-old category, winners were Iris Tindle, daughter of Dillon and Hannah Tindle, and Eli Jaxon Mahoney, son of Angel and Eric Mahoney.
Show N Shine
This year’s Show N Shine event, hosted by the Riders to Eternity Chapter of the Christian Motorcycle Association, had a lot of great entries. Joseph Hernandez won Best of Show, Dave Norris won the American Class and Amber and Joe Oxford took home the trophy for the Metric Sport Bike Class.
Veteran Spotlight
The Veteran Spotlight featured local minister Bill Coffin as well as a military-inspired speech offered by Sonja Coffin who originally spoke at the 2017 Four Star Leadership program. Local World War II, Korea and Vietnam Veteran Garrett Sutton was honored, and a symbolic bell was rang to recognize all veterans who have passed.
Cash Raffle
The General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum hosted this year’s cash raffle. Four names were drawn to win $50 with Debbie Boyd and Servey Alonzo getting their name called and Sofia Perez winning twice. Rosa Ramirez won the $100 prize in the final giveaway of the evening.
“This year’s Celebration of Freedom was the best one yet,” said D’Lese Travis, executive director of the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum. “We are so grateful to be surrounded by people who love their community as much as the residents of Hobart. We could never have made this event so successful without all our amazing volunteers and local businesses.”
The General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum was created as a historical foundation dedicated to telling the story of the United States military and education. Its mission is to advance the development of this world-class leadership training institution and museum. For more information, visit TommyFranksMuseum.org.
For Immediate Release: May 24, 2018
The General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum and the City of Hobart hosted their 10th annual Celebration of Freedom May 18-19. The Celebration of Freedom is a festival honoring servicemen and women while entertaining the community with a silent auction, games, live music and more.
The 10th annual Celebration of Freedom was the most successful to date. On Friday, May 18, more than 100 people attended the Friends of the Museum dinner and live auction. The event was highlighted by Hobart’s own Hope Hancock, Four Star Leadership alumna, speaking on behalf of the program. Stephen and Debbie Boyd were presented with certificates of appreciation for their work educating students across the state with the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum Mobile Museum and Roadshow and Kristie Jackson, Kody Suanny and Emmy Stricker from Great Plains Youth and Family Services also received certificates of appreciation for their work with families and children in Kiowa County.
Golf Scramble
Hosted by the Hobart Grapplers wrestling team, the Freedom Fest Golf Scramble was held at the Hobart Municipal Golf Course. Winners of the Golf Scramble were Derek Blevins, TJ Wilson, Colin Stork and Clint Cook.
Horseshoe Tournament
Hobart Farm and Garden hosted this year’s Horseshoe Tournament at the Hobart Municipal Golf Course where Kellan Smith and Paxton McCormick team were the champions.
Skeet Shoot
Colton Hanna won the Skeet Shoot hosted by the Hobart Gun Club, while Allen Hanna and Rex McCombs tied for second place.
Lil’ Mr. and Miss Pageant
Always a fan favorite, the children’s pageant was hosted by Great Plains Youth and Family Services. In the newborn to 12 months category, winners were Kitson “McCrae” Risley, daughter of Nick and Cassie Risley, and Ledger Herbst, son of Shelby Tate and Micah Herbst. In the 1 to 2-year-old category the winners were Rowyn Martin, daughter of Jarrod and Katelyn Martin, and Rafe Frye, son of Ashley and Jimmy Frye. Rounding out the competition in the 3 to 4-year-old category, winners were Iris Tindle, daughter of Dillon and Hannah Tindle, and Eli Jaxon Mahoney, son of Angel and Eric Mahoney.
Show N Shine
This year’s Show N Shine event, hosted by the Riders to Eternity Chapter of the Christian Motorcycle Association, had a lot of great entries. Joseph Hernandez won Best of Show, Dave Norris won the American Class and Amber and Joe Oxford took home the trophy for the Metric Sport Bike Class.
Veteran Spotlight
The Veteran Spotlight featured local minister Bill Coffin as well as a military-inspired speech offered by Sonja Coffin who originally spoke at the 2017 Four Star Leadership program. Local World War II, Korea and Vietnam Veteran Garrett Sutton was honored, and a symbolic bell was rang to recognize all veterans who have passed.
Cash Raffle
The General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum hosted this year’s cash raffle. Four names were drawn to win $50 with Debbie Boyd and Servey Alonzo getting their name called and Sofia Perez winning twice. Rosa Ramirez won the $100 prize in the final giveaway of the evening.
“This year’s Celebration of Freedom was the best one yet,” said D’Lese Travis, executive director of the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum. “We are so grateful to be surrounded by people who love their community as much as the residents of Hobart. We could never have made this event so successful without all our amazing volunteers and local businesses.”
The General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum was created as a historical foundation dedicated to telling the story of the United States military and education. Its mission is to advance the development of this world-class leadership training institution and museum. For more information, visit TommyFranksMuseum.org.