EmailMajor American Army base Fort Bragg has cancelled its Independence Day bash, making it the latest victim of sequester cuts.
Organizers expected the annual event that has been celebrated for more than 30 years to draw about 50,000 civilian and military attendees.
Fort Bragg spokesman Benjamin Abel said the decision to cancel the show wasn’t an easy one for base leadership to make, but ultimately it outweighed the threat of furloughs for their civilian workforce.
“It was kind of unreasonable to expect that we would pay that much money in overtime when we were also staring down the potential for furloughing those workers,” Abel told ABC News.
The base provided a list of other celebrations in the region, but Abel said the fireworks display and surrounding events at Fort Bragg would have been the largest Independence Day show in the area.
One day after the announcement went out, a Facebook group called, “OPERATION SAVE FOURTH OF JULY!” had amassed more than 500 members.
“Due to budget cuts Fort Bragg will be canceling their Fourth of July celebration. HELP US SAVE IT!!!!” the group’s description read. “We will be doing fundraising and taking donations to help put on some kind of celebration. Our soldiers deserve a day JUST FOR THEM and the freedom they have brought us. They fight for our freedom, let’s give them their day!”
When asked if there was a possibility the cancellation could be reversed if more funding were to come in, Abel left the door open but warned any talk of that was merely speculation.
“It’s the decision right now,” Abel said. “If there were some extraordinary circumstances that could happen in the future, who knows?”
The Department of Defense originally projected civilian employees could face up to 22 days of unpaid leave thanks to the across-the-board budget cuts in sequestration, but they recently reduced that number to 14 days.
Really? Cut 4th of July? What a disgrace.
Posted by: Mr. X | April 12, 2013, 3:07 pm 3:07 pm
Obama probably loves it with his unpatriotic ass!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: ray | April 12, 2013, 3:18 pm 3:18 pm
Cancel the 4th to pay for rap concerts at the WH, golf trips with tiger, spring break, ski trips – oh well
Posted by: jamescbuilder | April 12, 2013, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm
The little people need to shut up and make sacrifices. Just because military families are dealing with injured and dead spouses, mothers, and fathers as a result of Obama’s warmongering does not warrant going overboard on the nation’s birthday. It’s not like the 4th of July ranks up there with Obama’s endless luxury Hawaiian vacations, star-studded parties, and golf games. Those are much higher priorities for taxpayers.
“Everybody has got to make some sacrifices, everybody’s gotta take a haircut.” – President Barack Obama, April 2011
It’s time to “eat our peas.” – President Barack Obama, July 2011
Indeed, Mr. President. Except for yourself, of course.
Forward!
Posted by: Joe | April 12, 2013, 3:52 pm 3:52 pm
Maximum pain for political gain.
Posted by: Sean | April 12, 2013, 4:02 pm 4:02 pm
Obama: “Make it hurt”!!
Posted by: THELOYALOPPOSITION | April 12, 2013, 4:59 pm 4:59 pm
I bet you the Republicans are so proud now of playing political blackmail with the debt ceiling – after raising it 19 times for Bush. The hypocrites are now hurting us all.
Posted by: Travis | April 12, 2013, 10:41 pm 10:41 pm
I bet you the Republicans are so proud now of playing political blackmail with the debt ceiling – after raising it 19 times for Bush. The hypocrites are now hurting us all.
Posted by: Travis | April 12, 2013, 10:41 pm 10:41 pm
How many of the Republicans stepped forward to take pay cuts?
Posted by: Miranda | April 12, 2013, 10:42 pm 10:42 pm
How many of the Republicans stepped forward to take pay cuts?
POSTED BY: MIRANDA | APRIL 12, 2013, 10:42 PM 10:42 PM
When did you give up your tax deductions? Hypocrite.
Posted by: Lynn | April 13, 2013, 8:23 am 8:23 am
It’s time to “eat our peas.” – President Barack Obama, July 2011
Indeed, Mr. President. Except for yourself, of course.
Forward!
POSTED BY: JOE | APRIL 12, 2013, 3:52 PM 3:52 PM
Kings and queens are good at making rules that apply to the little people (but not to the royalty). Why is that so hard for so many to see?
Posted by: deanbob | April 13, 2013, 10:44 am 10:44 am
How many of the Republicans stepped forward to take pay cuts?
POSTED BY: MIRANDA | APRIL 12, 2013, 10:42 PM
Obama offers his $5K pay cut as he boards Air Force One to spend millions of dollars to go to the West Coast? That is a real sacrifice – of the tax payers’ money! (But Bush, but Bush, but Bush. The issue is not about Bush; it is about THIS administration).
Posted by: deanbob | April 13, 2013, 10:50 am 10:50 am
Posted by: deanbob | April 13, 2013, 10:50 am 10:50 am
I bet you the Republicans are so proud now of playing political blackmail with the debt ceiling – after raising it 19 times for Bush. The hypocrites are now hurting us all.
How many of the Republicans stepped forward to take pay cuts?
p.s. – Obama took a 5% pay cut, not a $5K pay cut. If you can’t get simple facts right, why would anybody believe what you post?
Posted by: Travis | April 13, 2013, 1:04 pm 1:04 pm
What is the real joke is that pilots need to have continuing training hours. This means that if parade fly-overs are scheduled ahead they add no added cost! The President must think that people are really dumb!
Posted by: Common _ Sense | April 13, 2013, 1:24 pm 1:24 pm
Since President Obama only paid a combined 18% Federal Income tax rate he should cough up a little more to help fund White House tours!
Posted by: Common _ Sense | April 13, 2013, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm
Since President Obama only paid a combined 18% Federal Income tax rate he should cough up a little more to help fund White House tours!
Posted by: Common _ Sense | April 13, 2013, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm
The Obamas gave $150,034 to charities, representing roughly 25 percent of their adjusted gross income in 2012.
The largest gift was $103,871 to the Fisher House Foundation, an organization that provides housing for military families near military hospitals.
Posted by: Travis | April 13, 2013, 1:37 pm 1:37 pm
POSTED BY: TRAVIS | APRIL 13, 2013, 1:37 PM 1:37 PM
You give nothing to charity. You only take it and demand more.
Posted by: Bob | April 13, 2013, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
You give nothing to charity. You only take it and demand more.
Posted by: Bob | April 13, 2013, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
Dear god Bob, really? How do you know?
Posted by: Trudy | April 13, 2013, 5:16 pm 5:16 pm
Anyone who considers the cancellation of a holiday party in budget cutting as too painful has zero will to right our financial ship.
Posted by: Quid est veritas | April 14, 2013, 10:21 am 10:21 am