JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Leadership from JBPHH, service members and their families welcomed the holiday season during the 46th Annual Freedom Tower Lighting celebration held here Dec. 11, 2015.
According to Todd Offet, the master of sermons for the event, 4,000 service members and their families attended the annual celebration.
The event began in the early evening, allowing everyone to enjoy a variety of attractions including; bounce houses, an interactive trampoline exhibition, craft building, a free photo with Santa Claus as well as entertainment provided by the Air Force Band of the Pacific.
Although the event was full of various attractions, the main event was the lighting of the Freedom Tower itself.
CAPT Stanley Keeve, commander Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Col. Randy Huiss, 15th Wing commander, pulled the lever, illuminate the over 5,000 lights strung from top of the 178-foot tower.
“This is a great family event that would not be possible without a lot of hard work,” said Keeve. “We have a lot of people to thank. To MWR, Naval Facilities Engineering Command and Civil Engineering Squadron, who strung the lights, Security Forces and our medical professional, thank you.”
Freedom Tower is slated to be lit all week, beginning at dusk. Pending any decision to remove the lights sooner, visitors should be able to view the illuminated tower until the end of the year. Freedom Tower is located on Manzelman Circle, near Hickam Elementary School.