Cape Girardeau VA Health Care Center to host second annual Fall Freedom Festival on Friday

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – “We’re privileged to serve veterans every day in their healthcare, but this is just kind of a fun way for us to offer additional services to them.” 

Libby Johnson with the Cape Girardeau VA Health Care Center said this is the Fall Freedom Fest in a nutshell, and she is a veteran herself and is from the area, so providing the services she does for her fellow veterans is that much more rewarding. 

“It just kind of ties my service and my community together for me, and I hope that I can make an impact in any local veteran’s life,” she said.

The freedom fest is an expansion of the center’s annual drive thru flu shot clinic. It will include 20 information booths from VA and outside organizations, food, employment representatives and much more… 

Administrative officer Lori Wooten said this event provides a relaxed atmosphere for veterans to get questions answered and gather as much information as they can. 

“The veterans don’t feel obligated to come, but the door is open for them to walk through it if they want,” she said. “They can also ask questions they may have before getting enrolled.” 

And after nearly 400 visitors attended the inaugural freedom fest last October, Wooten hopes for, if not expects, even larger numbers this year. 

“The first year for the festival, I don’t think anybody expected it, but we were happy, we were grateful, and we hope to maybe double that this year,” she said.

The free flu shot clinic will begin at 7 a.m., booths will open at 10 am, and food will be served beginning at 11 am. The festival will run until 1 p.m.