Thursday night the Cumberland Presbyterian Church on 10th Street in Cookeville presented their annual Fourth of July musical, "God Bless America."
The music consisted of "The Patriot Singers" choir, "The Freedom Ringers" handbell chorus, the "Girls Ensemble," Instrumentalists including trumpeters, drums, organ, and piano, a liturgy, and a narration by State Representative Henry Fincher.
It was a very full house as the nave was packed-- a few viewed standing in the Narthex. The right transcept held the choir and instrumentalists and the left transcept held the "Freedom Ringers," the girls ensemble, and a lot of overflow crowd.
The Freedom Ringers were directed by Christy Huddleston while Joy Rachor directed The "Patriot Singers" and the overall event.
The event was MC'd by Rev. McClasky, and the homily was presented by Rev. Rice.
The program:
Prelude "In God We Trust" Dobrinski
Words of Welcome & Invocation Rev. Charles McCaskey
Posting of the Colors & Pledge of Allegiance
Star-Spangled Banner Smith/Rouse
America - arr. Hart
I Once Had a Dream - Purifoy
Blessed is the Nation - Larson
Homily United We Stand Rev. Perryn Rice
America, the Beautiful - arr. McChesney
Homeland - Holst/Stroope
Thank You, Soldiers - Souders
Portraits of America - arr. Hart
Song of Victory "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory" Raney
Retiring of the Colors
Benediction Rev. McCaskey
CHOIR
Max Atnip, Randy Balask, Ellen Beckham, Ann Clark, Martha Clift, Janice Cox, Frankie Dickerson, Eldridge Eads, Tommy Elliot, Carlene Galemore, Linda Good
Susan Goss, Jim Gray, Lee Ann Gray, Dessa Hix, Thomas Holt, Brenda Johnson, Teena King, Angle Knight, Marlon Lazuka, Gary Lovellette, Jim Matthews, Wanda McCaskey
Laurie Murdock, Brian O 'Connor, Mary Pashley, Kelly Piepmeier, Mary Jane Pride, Jan Presley, Bob Spence, Alan Tatum, Joyce Tatum, Lee Webb, Jennifer White
FREEDOM RINGERS
Christy Huddieston, director
Ellen Beckham, Jane Anne Gotcher, Martha Head, Faith Holdredge,
Elizabeth Hutchins, Brenda Johnson, Lorna Jones,Teena King, Joy Rachor
Mary Short, Bethany Timmerman, Terry Welch, Kenny Wolf, Tammy Wilson
GIRLS ENSEMBLE
Samia Anderson, Emily McCormick, Sarah Sheets, Sarah Byrne, Emily Paling, Megan Wharton
INSTRUMENTALISTS
Sandra Robbins, pianist; Tommie Jean Eads, organist; Chris McCormick, Les McDonald, Andrew Kennedy, trumpeters; David Talbert, percussion
NARRATOR
State Representative Henry Fincher
FLAG BEARER
1st SGT Freeman H. Smith, ret.,
OTHERS OF SIGNIFICANCE
Statue of Liberty created by Carolyn Whitson
Bill Greer, sound technician
Mitch Teeters, video technician
Flowers donated by Chuck & Carlene Galemore
