Calhoun and Gordon County residents will honor the men and women of air, land and sea with a special Tribute to the Armed Services performance on Saturday, Aug. 21.
Director Marvin Beach will lead a communitywide choir of 80 members, in the free performance of “Homeland” at the downtown park in Calhoun.
“Homeland,” a praise-gathering music performance, is a celebration of America as the greatest land of all. According to “Homeland” narrator Randy Vader, it’s a place where we, as Americans, pledge the same flag, defend the same land, and breathe the same air.
The songs include: Battle Hymn of the Republic, Count the Cost (To See That Banner Wave), Doxology/We Shall Overcome/Lean On Me, Let Justice Roll On, Livin’ in the Homeland, Salute to the Armed Forces, Salute to the Armed Forces Underscore, Salute to the States (America, the Beautiful), The Star-Spangled Banner, This Land is Your Land, This Land is Your Land Underscore, and We the People.
If you go:
What: A free Tribute to the Armed Services performance and concert that honors all branches of service.
When: Saturday, Aug. 21 at 7 p.m.
Where: Calhoun’s downtown park
“I just want to draw a huge crowd out to this fantastic for event for Gordon County,” Beach said. “The music starts out with the ‘National Anthem’ and then it has ‘This Land is my Land’ and then there’s about 40 more minutes of music. People will recognize all of the songs.”
“Homeland,” will feature a dozen-plus patriotic songs and is a praise compilation of songs regarding the history of the U.S. Every track is patriotic and accompanied by a DVD, narrated by Randy Vader who will emphasize great moments in history.
It encapsulates the spirit of patriotism, Beach said.
“It’s patriotic and the DVD accompaniment track has picture of Blue Angels and children hugging mom and dad and it tells the story of the U.S. It’s hard to get through it without tearing up,” he said.
The performance is to be part of the Main Street Partnership’s Concerts in the Park Series.
After Beach, who is the minister of music at Calhoun First United Methodist Church, came up with the idea, he took over coordination of the concert and turned it into a gospel-patriotic event that will feature local heroes and honorees.
Special Guest of Honor
The special guest of honor will be Donna Blair, widow of Sgt. John David Blair of the National Guard 108th Cav-alry.
Beach said he felt a personal call to Donna Blair after he witnessed her husband, Sgt. John David Blair’s, proces-sional ceremony in 2009.
“I was standing there when they brought her husband down Main Street and I was touched,” Beach said.
Even now, he said that when he talks about that moment it still affects him.
“I think with the Iraq war and Afghanistan war that our country needs to be even more supportive of our mili-tary. Our country should really honor and respect the armed forces," Marvin said.
“I was delighted by the honor,” said Donna Blair. “Me, the children and the grandchildren will be there.”
Donna continues to keep families in her thoughts and actively makes an effort to help her neighbors.
“It would be so much easier for me to close my door and shut those people out, but we are here to make the world a better place. One little thing you see somebody do will help others,” she said.
Uniform Salute
There will be a presentation of flags from all branches of the military while the choir sings the theme song for each branch.
Anyone who has served will be asked to stand and be recognized with a round of applause as part of the tribute.
“Soldiers in the appropriate dress of uniform will stand and be recognized,” Beach added.
Admission is free to attend and the event is a part of the Concerts in the Park summer series, sponsored by Cal-houn Main Street Partnership, at the BB&T Park in downtown Calhoun.
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