REINBECK – Kandie Vaughn says she has spent more than a year getting ready for her Fourth of July events.
“I have enough food for 2,000 people,” Vaughn said in her Reinbeck home as she made the final preparations for Sunday. “I want to run out of food.”
Vaughn’s efforts center on her stepson, Army Specialist Travis Vaughn, and how she is still healing, years after his death. On February 18, 2007, Vaughn, 26, was one of dozens aboard a Chinook helicopter in Afghanistan when it crashed. Vaughn and seven others died, 14 were injured.
“Travis was an amazing young man. Constantly pushing the envelope,” said his stepmother about Travis, a graduate of Cedar Falls High School.
Pointing to his legacy, Kandie Vaughn is rallying people to come to Reinbeck, especially veterans, those currently serving and their families.
“People lose sight for why we celebrate our independence,” said Vaughn. “Our troops and our soldiers put their lives in danger for our indepdendence and our freedom.”
For the Grundy County town of about 1,700, Reinbeck will be a destination to mark Independence Day. Vaughn said Sunday’s events will open with a flyover of four F-16s at about 11:15 and a parade through the city to follow at 1 p.m.
“Come and enjoy the day, Reinbeck’s doors are open,” said Vaughn. “The community wants to show support.”
Reinbeck has been touched by the price people have paid to serve. Specialist Vaughn is honored in the city along with Command Sgt. Major John Laborde, 53, of Reinbeck, who died in April of cardiac arrest in Afghanistan.
“I expect to see thousands of troops here,” said Glenda Billerbeck, owner of the Fountain on Main in downtown Reinbeck. “People supporting them, thanking them and welcoming each other into town.”
Each year, Vaughn said she marks February 18, the day Travis died, by paying attention to veterans who may not get much attention.
“We go to the veterans’ home in Marshalltown and we do the ‘shower of gifts’ and we collect items for them,” said Vaughn. “The first year, we had two vans. This year we had to use a 17-foot U-Haul.”
As she hopes for people to eat all of the food Sunday, Vaughn said one of the most pleasing parts of organizing’s this event is bridging any gap between generations of veterans.
“There are a ton of Vietnam veterans who want to serve the meal to these soldiers and to their families as a way to heal,” said Vaughn. “I’m really excited but trying not to be too emotional about it but it really does mean a lot to me and for our troops.”
