Military and civilians mixed among food booths, craft tents, and children's games and rides. Kids were thrilled over their foam gecko pets and adults relished the array of food, but everyone spoken to mentioned the deployed troops.

"This event instills the Fourth of July spirit in the children and helps them understand why their fathers and mothers are fighting," said Staff Sgt. Kenneth Straton.

At the same time the event also supports the families, Straton said. "It gets the kids' minds off of what's going on around them."

Red, white and blue colored the day on T-shirts, flags and painted faces as hundreds gathered by early afternoon. Thousands more were expected for the fireworks at 8:30 p.m.

But Jim Polk wasn't taking chances and secured his spot under the shade of a jacaranda tree at 5:30 yesterday morning. Only military police and a few soldiers were there before him, said Polk, 61, a retired Army sergeant who has attended the function for 15 years.

"The Army always takes care of their own and this is just one way to do it," Polk said.

The usual selection of hot dogs and hamburgers was available, but people could also could buy shrimp pasta, crab cakes, Hawaiian plates and chicken adobo.

Also on display were nine vintage military vehicles dating to 1942, including a World War II Jeep, a 1944 1 1/2-ton Chevy truck and a Willys Jeep. The Hawai'i Military Vehicle Preservation Association supplied the vehicles.

There were eight inflatable play structures including Iceburg Challenge, Laser Tag and Iron Man and an assortment of rides but Carolyn Burk, 11, liked the climbing wall best even if she did get stuck for several minutes near the top.

"I was kinda freaking out cause when you get up there you know you're safe but you feel that you're not safe," Burk said, adding she would do it again. "I love climbing, and it really helps people with a lot of energy like me."

A crowd of 40,000 to 60,000 people was expected for the fireworks display at the end of the event, which ran from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., said Kathy Giannetti, event organizer and morale, welfare and recreation leisure activities director.

The entertainment will be filmed and sent to the troops in Iraq, Giannetti said.

Kelly Slater was alone with her children, 16, 5 and 3 years old. Slater said this holiday is her husband's favorite but he's deployed and the family is trying to have a good time for him. Although being alone is difficult, she said there's a lot of support, including this event, for the families at Schofield.

"This is an awesome opportunity, not only for the military but also the general public who gets to see the military life and activities," Slater said.

Selina Huggard, 28 a mother of three with a baby on the way, said she and her family really get into the holiday, wearing patriotic T-shirts and spending the whole day at Sills Field. Huggard said her husband is on a deployment list.

"I'm just happy to have my husband for this event, but it's scary," Huggard said. "I'm glad I have him here instead of Iraq."