Patriotic Sing
Friday , July 3 6:00 pm . P Morgan Hill Downtown Amphitheater
The Freedom Fest Patriotic Sing is celebrating its 27th year of our children of the community singing songs of our country . Over the years , the Sing has had various identities . It began around the turn of the twentieth century , when the children of Morgan Hill would gather the eve of the 4th of July and sing Patriotic Songs .
In 1989 , two Morgan Hill residents , Dr . Ronald Mackley and Hal Hendrickson , decided to return to that tradition . They asked Karen Ann Crane , a local music teacher , if she would be involved . The Sing returned , as a way to teach the treasured songs of our country to our community ’ s children . And , on its return , the Sing was held on the eve of the 4th of July and continues so today .
Soon the chorus members knew the words to our traditional songs and once again , the Sing reinvented itself . During the past several years , the Sing has become a way for our community ’ s children to understand and honor the sacrifices made by our Armed Forces members . Over the past twenty-seven years , I have had the gift of watching the evolution of the Sing . We now have second-generation chorus members !
Now , in 2015 , the Sing is changing once again . We are moving our performance to the Morgan Hill Amphitheater at our Community Cultural Center . We look forward to families and people in our audience joining us outdoors this year . Our new venue is a perfect place to celebrate a home-town 4th of July .
And , if that wasn ’ t enough , we will have new honored guests – several Canine Teams from Operation Freedom Paws . OFP is doing amazing work , often with soldiers who are returning from deployment suffering from PTSD . We welcome them to our children ’ s concert . Freedom Fest ’ s Theme this year is “ The Great American Road Trip .” In March , children in our community were invited to write an essay entitled : “ If you could travel to any of America ’ s Historical Sites , National Monuments , or National Parks , where would you go and why ?” You will find the winning essays in this program , please take time to read them . Children wrote about wanting to travel to the Everglades , Pearl Harbor , to the 9 / 11 Memorial , Yosemite , and so many more destinations .
Members of our chorus participate in various community service projects . At each rehearsal , children are encouraged to bring items to be donated to our deployed soldiers . With the support of the Blue Star Moms , our donations of batteries , socks , and other items on the soldier ’ s wish list , are delivered in “ Care Packages ” to deployed soldiers . At the Sing , members of our audience and chorus are encouraged to write a note of encouragement to our deployed soldiers . During the year , we also sing at Morgan
Hill ’ s annual Veterans ’ and Memorial Day Ceremonies .
We are continually adding names to our “ Wall of Heroes ”. These names have been submitted by our chorus and community members and reflect the people who have served or are serving in our Armed Forces throughout history , from the Civil War , and including WW I , WW II , Korea , Viet Nam , Desert Storm , Desert Shield , Iraq , and Afghanistan . At the Patriotic Sing , you will see families taking pictures of their loved one ’ s Star and sending it to their soldier , who is often serving overseas . Or , you may witness a Vietnam Vet standing in front of his Star holding the hand of his grandchild .
We invite you to listen to our chorus during Freedom Fest ’ s Fourth of July events . We begin by singing at our own performance , the Patriotic Sing , held on July 3rd , from 6 pm to 7 pm , at the Morgan Hill Amphitheater . Then we ’ re off to sing at the Street Dance . On the 4th of July , thanks to Bill Jacobson Trucking , we ’ ll travel the Parade route singing our socks off for America . We conclude our busy 4th of July by singing at the Freedom Fest Fireworks .
We hope you enjoy this year ’ s Sing . Here you ’ ll see the faces of our future . Those faces show respect , enthusiasm , pride , and a spirit of patriotism as we sing the songs of America and honor those who serve .
P BY KAREN ANN CRANE Patriotic Sing Chair
THE GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIP P Morgan Hill Freedom Fest 2015 19