"It's good that they didn't have it on the Fourth of July because everyone has plans," said Laurieti, who attended a cookout July 4.
Participants in search of a bite to eat or a patriotic souvenir had numerous worthy causes among which to choose. Organizations such as the Boonsboro Athletic Boosters, Boonsboro High School Warrior Band, Sons of the American Legion, Cub Scout Pack 51, Boonsboro Bible Church and Mt. Nebo United Methodist Church each set up fundraising booths at the carnival.
Other organizations set up carnival-style games for children.
"It's pretty fun because there's lots of things to do, like pick-a-duck and the dunking booth, and some of the booths cost not that much," said Courtney Bockstanz, 9, of Hagerstown, who was volunteering at a booth run by Catholic Daughters of the Americas for Life. There, children paid 25 cents to pick a toy duck for a chance to win a prize such as a red, white and blue pinwheel.
With prices so low, the games were more about contributing to the celebration than raising money, said Laura Vaughn, a volunteer at Cub Scout Pack 20's dunking booth.
"It's more for the fun of it," Vaughn said. "If we recoup our money for (renting the dunking equipment), we're good."
Another popular attraction was a combat simulator game built into the back of a Maryland National Guard Humvee.
The National Guard was at the carnival partially for recruitment and partially just to join in the celebration, Staff Sgt. Amy Fasulo said.
"You're celebrating independence, and you wouldn't have that independence if it weren't for the military doing their part for freedom," Fasulo said.
Nearby, a group of volunteers raising money for a holiday card drive for local troops agreed.
"We're celebrating our country's heroes," said Patty Bolland, whose son, Glenn Bolland, is in Special Forces training. Photos of him with his unit, the 173rd Airborne, were displayed along with patriotic decorations for sale as a fundraiser at the South Washington County Military Support Group booth.
"I think our American military are really America's true heroes, and I think sometimes they are forgotten," said the group's leader, Lynn Jones.
