06/30/2004 | K4GNC Gaston County Amateur Radio Emergency Service and Gastonia Area Amateur Radio Club combined efforts this year to provide the biggest Field Day Gaston County, North Carolina has ever had. Months in the making, such exhibits as The Gaston County Police
Drink, Dont Drive Trailer with free finger print kits for the children and lots of information for the adults, The AG Center VFD with their new 105-foot ladder truck and the City of Belmont with their Smoke House Exhibit demonstrating how to react in a fire. Also attending was an officer from the City of Gastonia, NC Police Depatment.
These exhibits were designed to attract the general public. We also offered a free drawing to attract the Ham population. We gave away an HTX-420 Dual-Band HT. This helped draw a few hams that have been inactive in the hobby and those that make amateur radio a part of their everyday life.
Another great feature was to give away free hot dogs and drinks. The drinks were provide by the Pepsi Corporation and were served from one of Pepsis Trailers on site.

News 14 Carolina a CNN affiliate interviewed Gene Marshall KG4IMC, Gaston County ARES AEC and PIO and filmed operators in action making Voice, Digital and CW contacts.

Field Day was held at the Gaston College Campus a well know and beautiful site with easy access for the public.

The weather looked as though it may play a major role in the planned activities. It had rained for 4 days prior to Field Day and the forecast was not looking very promising.
It rained Friday night and into Saturday morning. When we arrived to set up the rain subsided and did not rain another drop until Sunday afternoon shortly after we had packed everything and called it a day. Could it be that our maker is a radio operator?

We were not out to set any records making contacts; we just wanted to get the public involved and introduce them to Amateur Radio. Mission accomplished. -- KG4IMC