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[aRoUnd ToWn ] MAY 2011 20 Free-to-Celebrate events at the Idaho Falls and Ammon Citizen’s Community Bank locations. (Free to Celebrate is also cel- ebrated annually on the same day at every Citizen’s Community Bank branch and benefits local veterans service organizations that each branch teams up with.) Each year the event gets bigger and bet- ter, Bitrick says. “In fact, May 20 will be our best Free to Celebrate yet!” Need a bite to eat for lunch or a snack Free to Celebrate May 20 events focus on service, remembrance We all have celebrations in our lives—birthdays, weddings, holidays, anni- versaries and life accomplishments, just to name a few. As Idahoans and citizens of the greatest country in the world, we are free to cel- ebrate whatever we choose, whenever we choose and however we choose. That free- dom does not come without a costly price, however. This price is paid 365 days of the year by countless servicemen and women, veterans, and their loved ones. Many of us have heard the saying, “Freedom isn’t free,” and it’s definitely true. The sacrifices these heroes make for our everyday freedoms shouldn’t go unnoticed, but in the hustle and bustle of the busy schedules we all have, sometimes they do. 30 Idaho Falls MagazIne MaY/JUne 2011 The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to always making sure the sacrifices of our local heroes and their loved ones are never forgotten. “Our mission is to serve those who have served,” states Monica Bitrick, Chair of the Military Affairs Committee. “To me it’s not about remembering our heroes just on Memorial Day or Independence Day; it’s about being grateful and thanking them 365 days of the year, because they deserve it.” According to Bitrick, that’s why every third Friday of May, the Military Affairs Committee teams up with Citizen’s Community Bank, Pepsi and Biolife to host for the kids? There will be free hamburg- ers, hot dogs, chips, cotton candy, popcorn, snow cones and drinks. Need a reason to get the kids out and about? Face painting, a dunking booth, jumping play set and fun activities will be available hosted by Biolife and the Idaho National Guard at the Ammon location. “Participants will also have ample oppor- tunity to donate to the Military Affairs Committee for chances to win awesome prizes,” Bitrick says. “Prizes in the past have included bikes, flat screen televisions, gift certificates and Boise State football items to name some of our favorites!” All proceeds from this annual event go back to the Military Affairs Committee. The funds are used to help those local heroes and their families in times of need. Last year, the Military Affairs Committee used donations to help house a homeless veteran; cover the cost of a new roof for a disabled veteran; help cover numerous util- ity, rent and food costs for needy service members and their families; repair a front home window for the family of a deployed soldier during winter months and sent over 200 Christmas care packages to the Idaho National Guard 116th deployed in Iraq. The May 20 celebration will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at both Citizen’s Community Bank locations: one in Ammon; one in Idaho Falls. For more information, Bitrick can be reached directly at 859-6297.