The Lerner Theatre will celebrate Independence Day with a free showing of the patriotic flick, “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” which is celebrating its 70th anniversary. The theater will play the movie at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The movie was released just months after Pearl Harbor and became a symbol as the country fought in World War II.

“It’s classic American cinema,” said general manager David Smith. The movie was chosen in honor of the upcoming holiday on Wednesday. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

The sponsor of the free movie showing, Elkhart’s INOVA Federal Credit Union, is also celebrating its 70th anniversary. Smith said that “made for a nice partnership.”

The event will also be an opportunity to collect money for the restoration of the Mohawk 3001, “the largest surviving New York Central Railroad steam locomotive.” It has been at the National New York Central Railroad Museum since 1987. You can either make donations at the theater or mail them to the Lakeshore Railroad Historical Foundation, Inc., PO Box 543, Elkhart, IN 46515.

The theater is at 410 S. Main St., Elkhart. For information, call 293-4469 or go to www.thelerner.com.

The railroad museum is at 721 S. Main St., Elkhart. For information on the museum, call 294-3001 or go to www.elkhartindiana.org/department/?fDD=54-0.