Raels to host July fourth bash

For more than 40 years, David and Jennie Rael, owners of S&L Industrial, have hosted Fourth of July festivities at their home in Cowley. What started as a small neighborhood block party has evolved into an elaborate celebration.

“We are happy to put on such a great event,” David said. “We are glad that we can put something into the community from what we have gotten out of it. We look forward to it, and we’re happy that we are in a position that we can do it.”

The shindig involves live music, a massive potluck dinner and an impressive fireworks display that can be seen from anywhere in town.

“We want to display what the Fourth of July used to be,” he said, “when communities came together and celebrated the United States of America and our freedoms to do so.”

Although it has been rumored for multiple years that the Raels won’t continue the tradition the following year, the happiness it brings them every year when the chaos winds down drives them to keep the event alive.

David said that the main reason behind their motivation to celebrate the holiday is to properly honor the nation’s servicemen and women, first responders and law enforcement of the past, present and future.

At the beginning of the entertainment, all veterans in attendance are asked to come forward and receive recognition for where and when they served. Although the Raels have personally never served, their deep found respect and gratitude for those who keep our country and community safe is apparent.

As a special token of appreciation, the owner and operator of the Billings IHOP -- personal friends of the Raels -- Bob Llana and his wife, donate $50 gift certificates good at any IHOP location to all service members in the audience.

“We are a small town with a big heart,” David said. “We don’t get noticed very often like we should for all of the good things here, and if this is something we can be known for doing, we are proud of that.”

After properly honoring the former and current veterans this year, country western singer Harry Luge will return as the special musical performer for the fourth time. But this time, Luge will be loading up the entire band from Arizona to join him.

Luge sings a list of covers and original music and opens a portion for requests to get the crowd involved and on the designated dancing area.

Once the fun ensues, a prayer is shared in gratitude for the food and freedom, and the potluck opens to the public. While community members are thankful for the traditional hot dogs and hamburgers, they will be served an extra special treat this year.

For the first time, the Raels will be providing a steer and a hog to be cooked in the ground prior to the event to serve to their guests. Tuffy Brost of Cowley will be utilizing his experience cooking in this form to bring this idea to fruition.

Another component that is making this possible is a custom grate made by Levi and Kie Miller of Miller’s Fabrication that will be used to hold and support the meat underground while cooking.

Since the dinner alone feeds between 500 and 800 people each year, the only thing that is asked of those in attendance is to bring a side dish to share, and the Raels credit those willing to do so as key to the meal’s success.

As the sun begins to set and the singing, dancing and eating comes to an end, the Raels will give each child a backpack full of Fourth of July goodies, and the kids will spread out for a chance to bust open a pinata. Newly added this year will be a photo booth for community members to capture fun and memorable moments together.

Although the event’s purpose is to spend time with one another from the area, guests should keep a lookout for some celebrities in their midst. While people travel from Idaho, Montana, California and Minnesota, the Raels have often hosted special guests like NFL coaches, singer Aaron Tippin and many more.

This year, one of Oscar De La Hoya’s (another personal friend of the Raels) right-hand guys will be in attendance. De Le Hoya is an American boxing promoter and former well-known professional boxer.

And if all of that wasn’t enough reason to come and join in on the fun, this year’s amazing fireworks show, choreographed by Caleb and Josh Sanders and their hobbyist group Pyro Up Wyoming, is set to be the best display yet and will begin at 10:15 p.m.

The Raels strive to improve or add to the fireworks show each year, so they have added a significant number of the largest shells they use. The show is accompanied by music that can be heard through the Pyrocast App using code S8Z4.

They also credited the willingness of the Lovell Volunteer Fire Department for providing a truck at the location in case their services are needed.

“Although the day is non-stop for us, David and I will randomly pass by one another and give each other a high five and a smile, and it just makes us happy to do,” Jennie said.

The duo prides themselves on taking the opportunity to honor and thank the country’s servicepeople and local first responders, but many would consider the Raels local people of service, and the community honors and thanks them for providing this one-of-a-kind, national holiday experience.