ARLINGTON — While the “Freedom Festival” in downtown Arlington won’t take place until Sept. 11, “Operation Homefront” is already asking members of the community to show their support for service members and their families.

Operation Homefront is sponsoring the festival, which will take place in Legion Park, and is soliciting donations to help support the families of deployed military members.

“All sponsors will have their companies printed on the T-shirts that will be handed out on the day of the festival,” said Debbie Whitis, secretary of the Downtown Arlington Business Association, who anticipated that as many as 10,000 attendees could be drawn to the event by newspaper, radio and other media coverage. “Sept. 11 is a Sunday, so please think about opening your business on that day.”

The deadline to donate is Aug. 12, and 95 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to the families.

“Let’s not forget those who fell on Sept. 11 and those who are still fighting today,” Whitis said.

For more information, call Whitis at 425-508-0435, or email Christina Vasquez at christina.bowles@navy.mil.