Albert Lea’s Beyond the Yellow Ribbon group will host its third annual Freedom Festival July 3.

The public is invited to attend this gathering to meet and chat with veterans both before and after the Third of July Parade. The event will be at the Fountain Lake gazebo. The Freedom Festival starts at 4 p.m. and lasts until 10 p.m. — with a break to watch the parade.

There will be free hot dogs and other refreshments available. Live entertainment is also planned. Albert Lea Beyond the Yellow Ribbon group member Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Dahlen said he hopes people take the time to stop by the Freedom Festival.

“We have a fun, relaxed day planned,” Dahlen said. “Hopefully people stop out and say hello.”

Another special feature of the event is a memorial to all of the Minnesota servicemen and women who have died since 9/11. The memorial features the names and dog tags of the fallen. Albert Lea’s Gail Springborg, a survivor outreach services support coordinator with the U.S. Army, was able to procure the statewide memorial for Albert Lea’s Independence Day celebrations.

“This is a very special memorial,” said Dahlen. “It’s exciting that Albert Leans get to see this up close.”

Albert Lea’s Beyond the Yellow Ribbon group meets the second Thursday of each month at 5:15 p.m. at the Albert Lea Armory. The public is invited to attend. Contact the group at albeyondtheyellowribbon@gmail.com or through its Facebook page.

The group is made up of representatives from city leadership, public safety, schools, churches, veterans’ organizations and other businesses. The group’s purpose is to hold activities, build awareness and provide support for deployed service members and their families. The group works closely with the Mankato Family Assistance Center to provide assistance to local military families when needed.