Fort Bragg Cancels 4th Of July Celebration

Military

Fort Bragg Cancels 4th Of July Celebration

瓜神app | By Gurnal Scott

Published April 12, 2013 at 5:01 AM EDT

Fort Bragg has held its annual 4th of July celebration for more than three decades. The event that Parade Magazine placed on of essential American experiences has been canceled. Post officials say sequestration cuts that took effect last month forced the move. Spokesman Tom McCollum says the celebration has been a popular tradition.

"This decision was extremely difficult for the command to make because we know what a large impact this has on our community," McCollum said. "And it's not just the Fort Bragg and Fayetteville community. Basically I'm talking about the eastern half of North Carolina and obviously down into South Carolina. A lot of soldiers who are stationed here bring family from throughout the country just to see this festival."

Army officials are faced with a 136-million-dollar cut in their North Carolina operations. They've reduced hours at the post's special forces museum and canceled cable TV at base fitness centers. Officials say the future of the 4th of July festival is uncertain beyond this year.

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Gurnal Scott

Gurnal Scott joined North Carolina Public Radio in March 2012 after several stops in radio and television. After graduating from the College of Charleston in his South Carolina hometown, he began his career in radio there. He started as a sports reporter at 瓜神app/Talk Radio WTMA and won five Sportscaster of the Year awards. In 1997, Gurnal moved on to television as general assignment reporter and weekend anchor for WCSC-TV in Charleston. He anchored the market's top-rated weekend newscasts until leaving Charleston for Memphis, TN in 2002. Gurnal worked at WPTY-TV for two years before returning to his roots in radio. He joined the staff of Memphis' 瓜神appRadio 600 WREC in 2004 eventually rising to 瓜神app Director. In 2006, Raleigh news radio station WPTF came calling and he became the station's chief correspondent. Gurnal鈥檚 reporting has been honored by the South Carolina Broadcasters Association, the North Carolina Associated Press, and the Radio Television Digital 瓜神app Association of the Carolinas.

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