Airport hosts ‘Freedom Festival’ Saturday
The Apalachicola Regional Airport will offer a salute to veterans as part of a day long Forgotten Cost Freedom Festival this Saturday, Nov. 16.
Beginning at 10 a.m. ET and ending at 4 p.m.,, the festival will provide free admission and free parking as families are welcome to stop by and enjoy live music, a car show, a kids Funzone, food and vendors.
As part of opening ceremonies, Eglin Air Force Base’s 58th fighter squadron has arranged for a fly-by a pair of F-35 Lightning II jets.
The Franklin County High School’s Cadet Core and the Gulf County National Junior ROTC program will present the colors.
For a cost of $75, rides will be available in a historic Vietnam-era Bell UH-1H Unicorn helicopter all day long, subject to early departure depending on weather and ride volume. Minors ages 2 to 17 may ride, with some restrictions. Minors age 16 and 17 may ride alone, but must have parent or guardian written permission. To arrange for a trip, visit friendsofarmyaviation.org.
The day will feature a display of military aircraft, a fly in by the Experimental Aircraft Association, and a county auction of government surplus and more. For more information, visit flauctionnetwork.com or call (850) 896-2343.
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the U.S. Air Force Reserve Recruiting, the Tyndall Air Force Base History Center, and the Haney Technical College Aviation Academy will all be taking part.
For more information, email forgottencoastff@gmail.com or visit Forgotten Coast Freedom Festival on Facebook.
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.