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Team Kadena prepares for AmericaFest

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kenya Shiloh
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
After a four-year hiatus, Team Kadena is preparing to open its gates to the local community July 4 and 5 for AmericaFest 2008.

AmericaFest is a community outreach event designed to promote friendship and understanding between members of the local and military communities. Visitors will be able to see first-hand aircraft operated by the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps and interact with military members from all four services.

"At AmericaFest, we want to give the community a chance to see the base from the inside, while getting to know our Airmen and their families better and experiencing a little bit of American culture," said Col. Manson Morris, 18th Wing Vice Commander.

Aircraft scheduled to be on display include the F-15 Eagle, E-3 Sentry, HH-60G Pave Hawk and KC-135 Tanker from the 18th Wing. Other aircraft that may be on display include the MC-130, F-16, C-12, A-10 and C-172 from the Aero Club.

Local community members will also have the opportunity to listen to musical performances from American and local artists while sampling a wide variety of traditional American foods such as hotdogs, pizza and funnel cake.

"When we were little, we used to come to Kadena Carnival which is now called AmericaFest every year," said Kaori Shimabukuro, 18th Wing Public Affairs community relations specialist. "We loved going to the carnival and experiencing the American culture. I'm glad the base is starting up this tradition again."

More than 50,000 people are expected to attend the two-day event which is open from noon to 10 p.m. each day. The first day is considered an open house and will be restricted to ID card holders and their families. The second day will be open to the public.
"I'm definitely going to AmericaFest this year because it's a chance for local people to come onto the base to see what it's like living and working there," said Takuya Kamiya, a local contractor. "I remember coming to an event like this many years ago. It was fun and different from any other local event. It's also nice to see the aircraft up close."

Kadena officials will provide further details about AmericaFest to include specifics on base access closer to the event date.