Pearson Air Museum Blog Celebrating Freedom for Free at this Year's Independence Day at Fort Vancouver Presented by Bank of America

The general public will be able to "Celebrate Freedom for Free" this year on the 4th of July, with no admission charge to Independence Day at Fort Vancouver presented by Bank of America. It will be "all about the fireworks," according the Fort Vancouver National Trust.While in the past this was a full day event, attendees are encouraged to come for the evening, claim their spot on the lawn, and enjoy a variety of vendors and live music starting at 6 p.m. in anticipation of a spectacular fireworks show at 10 p.m."After conducting an assessment of the event's structure and costs, and reviewing feedback from participant surveys, the Trust recognized that the fireworks show is the element most valued by the community. We're focusing on that - giving our audience what they most want," said Trust President & CEO Mike True."The Trust is committed to a tradition that began more than 50 years ago, by staging one of the region's largest and most memorable fireworks displays," said True. The fireworks launch up to 500 feet high, cover a radius of 500 feet wide, and feature unique special effects. The 2017 display will once again be staged from Pearson Air Field and synchronized to music."Bank of America is honored to be the presenting sponsor of Independence Day at Fort Vancouver for the eighth year in a row. Supporting this terrific community event is something our local employees are really proud to be a part of, and our customers and clients are excited about, too," said David K. Reiter, a Vancouver-based U.S. Trust Private Client Manager at Bank of America. "In fact, going back more than 100 years, Bank of America has a strong tradition of supporting causes and events that are important to the local neighborhoods we serve here in Clark County - and the Fort Vancouver fireworks is just one of the many investments we're making towards strengthening the local community."There will be a ticketed Prime Viewing area, where attendees will have unobstructed front-row view of the fireworks and a 4th of July picnic dinner buffet. Prime Viewing tickets are $50 for guests 18 and over, $25 for those under 18, and free for 5 and under. Prime Viewing tickets are available at fortvan.org/fourth."Vehicle access will be restricted beginning at 8 a.m. and entry gates will be in place. Bags will be checked all day," said Program Manager Natalie Hantho. "But we encourage people to come after 6 p.m." The Trust is implementing a "$5 for the Fireworks" campaign. A suggested donation of $5 will be collected at the gates from those who wish to contribute to the cost of the show.Getting to the event is convenient with help from C-Tran. Hop on one of C-Tran's FREE shuttles running every 15 minutes from the north side of the Vancouver Mall to the fireworks display between 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Return service will be available immediately following the fireworks show.Paid parking lots will be available to the east and west of Fort Vancouver and all downtown metered parking is free for the holiday.With the loss of revenue due to the ban on sale of retail fireworks in the city limits, the City of Vancouver has approved a lodging tax grant to support this year's event. This event would not be possible without the generous financial support of sponsors. The Fort Vancouver National Trust thanks presenting sponsor Bank of America, as well as Waste Connections, Alaska Airlines, AMR, and Homewood Suites. Special thanks to the event media partners, including Comcast, KGW, 98.7 The Bull, Alpha Media, and The Columbian.For more information, to purchase Prime Viewing tickets, or to volunteer, visit www.fortvan.org/fourth, email events@fortvan.org, or call 360-992-1804.About Bank of AmericaAt Bank of America, our focus on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors is critical to fulfilling our purpose of helping make people's financial lives better. Our commitment to growing our business responsibly is embedded in every aspect of our company. It is demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our customers, and the impact we help create around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships across sectors - including community and environmental advocate groups, as well as non-profits - in order to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at www.bankofamerica.com/about and connect with us on Twitter at @BofA_News.For more Bank of America news, visit the Bank of America Newsroom. www.bankofamerica.com. Read more