Freedom Park

Okay, it is Memorial Day. Husband at work, kiddo out of town. What to do? Feeling that I should participate in something that shows respect to the meaning of the day. I have had Freedom Park on my bucket list for a few years and, despite it being a 30ish minute drive for me, I loaded up the camera and was off. The road leading to the Park is not in the best of shape. Go slow, it is not a race. There is a lot of trees and a sense of being away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Pulling into the lot caught me off guard. I mean, there is this huge ship, while weathered, proudly displaying her flags, which were lightly blowing. The initial reaction was pride. Take your time, go through the ship. Go up the stairs, go down, go down to the next level. Go stand in the claustrophobic bunk where men once rested their heads. The place vibrates with this story, this lost sense of patriotism. Check out the mini submarine. Don't forget the Chopper or the amazingly huge anchors. Take in that feeling. Talk to the volunteers, they are great. Listen to the old men, the ones who remember, tell their tales. Again, take your time. This is history and is pretty important.Tip: take a lunch. There is a lifted pavilion that overlooks the park and the river. Take your kids. Take your time.The backside to Freedom Park is the floods that all but wiped this amazing landmark out. As a result, the time and extremely limited resources, have put the park somewhat back to order. Take an afternoon and go. Thank me later.

Mine Sweeper in real life. I can not wait for this place to reopen.I had heard stories of this park existing and had a tough time finding it. After the last big flood we had the park had been closed due to flood damage. A coworker told me of its existence and gave me bad directions to find its location, which led me closer to Hummel Park. I started working for the Corrections department at Omaha Correctional Center when I spotted it off in the distance. There it was the tower of the mine sweeper just blocks from the prison. The bad news was that it was closed. One Saturday on the way past the park I noticed that the gates were up and the park was open for a couple hours. I went down the long drive and into the park. I was able to explore the mine sweeper and get a guided tour inside the tiny submarine. This park is currently being put back together by only a couple volunteers. Pokémon go was all the craze at the time and I was able to leave my best fighter at the gym... untouched for over a week due to the fact that the park was closed. All but those random Saturdays where the park opens for a few hours.

A random hidden gem! Go check out some history and bring a picnic basket! Hidden on a backroad, we would have never found this place had it not been for a turnaround at the park. The sign saying Freedom Park Open 10-3pm today was written on plywood and the gate led us down a beat up old gravel road. Once you arrive you start to wonder why in a military town there isn't more advertising and support for some old national icons from the Navy and armed forces... good find!