BY ROB DAVIS
THE OBSERVER
OPELIKA — For the second year in a row, the city of Opelika will host Freedom Fest, a weekend celebration honoring the men and women who have sacrificed so much for the nation.
The festival begins Friday, Nov. 7, with a 7 p.m. concert and concludes Saturday afternoon with a Medal of Honor meet and greet. Saturday’s events will also include a veterans breakfast followed by a veterans parade — the first of its kind in Opelika.
Freedom Fest is the brainchild of Lee County native and retired U.S. Marine Jamie Popwell, who also founded Flags for Vets, a program that honors military veterans by installing a flagpole and American flag in their yards at no cost. Veterans and their families can apply for the service through the organization’s website.
So far, Popwell has single-handedly installed 737 flags at veterans’ homes across the United States — from as far away as Pennsylvania and Idaho. Traveling in his truck with a newly wrapped trailer, Popwell said there’s no distance too far to honor those who have served.
According to Popwell, the idea for Freedom Fest came to him one evening over a glass of bourbon.
“I was sitting around on a Saturday night sipping on a little bit of bourbon on the rocks,” Popwell said. “I was probably about three glasses in when I said to myself, ‘You know, I’m gonna raise some money and put on a concert.’”
Popwell said last year’s Freedom Fest served as a learning experience in organizing and scheduling. While he considers it a success, he realized he would need more help to make this year’s event bigger and better.
“This year when I started planning for the festival, I called the city and I called the Chamber,” Popwell said. “I said, ‘Listen, I’m doing this in our hometown, and you have a vested interest in this. I want to know if you want to be a part of it.’ To Mayor Fuller’s credit and to [Chamber President] Ali Rauch’s credit, they said, ‘Tell us what we can do.’”
This year’s Freedom Fest will feature five Medal of Honor recipients, who will be in town for the weekend and meet attendees following the parade.
“We’ve got five Medal of Honor recipients, and they’ll be in town all weekend,” Popwell said. “We’re doing a meet and greet with them right after the parade so people can meet these great individuals who live right here in this community.”
Lee County resident and Silver Star recipient Eric Brandenburg will serve as the keynote speaker before the parade on Saturday. Brandenburg is also the recipient of five Gold Stars. Popwell said a military flyover will take place during the parade as well.
While Freedom Fest has become a top priority, Popwell is also facing a personal challenge — one he’s determined to overcome. Recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, he is undergoing weekly radiation treatments. True to his Marine spirit, Popwell said he’s tackling the battle head-on.
“You know, being overseas and at Camp Lejeune with all the contaminated water, I knew eventually at some point in my life I would be diagnosed with some kind of cancer,” Popwell said. “When the doctor gave me the news, I just did a shoulder shrug and said, ‘Okay, what’s next? What do we need to do? Because I’m gonna kick this cancer’s [butt] just like I’ve kicked everything else’s [butt] in my life.’”
Popwell said the festival wouldn’t be possible without the support of the city and the community.
“There’s no way I could do this by myself,” Popwell said. “So many people have stepped up — from the volunteers to Mayor Fuller and Ali Rauch. I’m just so grateful that the community sees the importance of showing our appreciation for these veterans.”
Presented by Flags for Vets and the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl, Freedom Fest kicks off Friday, Nov. 7, with a concert featuring Blane Rudd and The Ryan Waters Band.
