Tama County citizens, friends and families are invited to a celebration of word, patriotic music, and dance planned and led by many talented county citizens in recognition of Flag Day/America’s 250 birthday followed by free cake and ice cream. Bring your lawn chairs to our Tama County Courthouse lawn and bandstand which will be decorated for the day and enjoy this Sunday afternoon, June 14th event from 2pm-4pm.

A program is planned to share highlights of events leading up to our nation’s Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson has been invited to remind us of his moving words that inspired a revolution. The Community Band led by Mike Carnahan will add their musical interpretation. Dallas Boerm and Cat Trax will lead group singing of our most beloved patriotic songs. Our nation’s flag will be honored and so much more. Songs from the American Revolution era will welcome guests pre-program and the Community Band will serenade guests post-program as refreshments are served.

This is a kid-friendly event. Children are invited to pick-up coloring pages relevant to these events at our local Tama and Toledo Public libraries. Colored pictures brought to the event can be placed in a drawing for prizes. Pages will also be available at the event for children to color and enter into the drawing. Other activities for children are planned including inviting them to lead off the program to marching music and flag waving and closing the program singing ‘Happy Birthday” to America.

Youth and adults are invited to share their photographic talents by capturing inspiring and meaningful pictures of flags flying across our county and submitting them to Tama Co. Economic Development, Jake Buchanan at jbuchanan@marshalltown.org Limit submissions to two photos per person. Please include your name, location where photo was taken and your contact information. The Tama Co. Board of Supervisors will hang an inspired entry or collage of entries in the Tama Co. Annex building. Please submit by June 12th.

Our local Wieting Theater changed their regular movie matinee time to accommodate this schedule and will add to the day’s historical tone by showing a one- hour documentary at 1:00pm. “AFTER IKE” is a documentary about the longest motorized military convoy ever assembled as it traveled from the White House to San Francisco in 1919. Ambassador Michael Owen retraces the Lincoln Highway journey as he explores and reflects on America’s past, present and future.

The Wieting Theater will be the location for this event in case of inclement weather. Stay informed by following the Tama County Economic Development Facebook page and other Facebook pages supporting this event. We look forward to a community building inspiring afternoon.