The sanctuary at Fairfield Highlands Baptist Church, Midfield, transformed into a sea of red, white and blue as worshipers gathered June 29 and 30 to pay tribute to America.
American flags honored loved ones who had served in the military and those who died fighting for freedom. A canvas bearing the signatures of survivors of the Sept. 11 World Trade Center attacks gave added meaning to the annual event.
Pastor Gary Cardwell said there was more interest in this year’s program, “Sweet Land of Liberty,” than in years past.
“There are more outward signs of patriotism,” he said. “I think that’s a direct result of Sept. 11.”
Terry Brasseale lent the church the canvas, which hung in St. Paul’s Chapel at Ground Zero in New York City. It was signed by visitors to the site and those who had survived the attacks.
The church’s minister of music, Randall Harwell, who directed the musical, said several choir members noted that Sept. 11 was on their minds before the performances.
“I can’t help but think of that,” Harwell said.
“As I’m leading the [patriotic] music, thoughts come to mind of Sept. 11.”
The musical also featured a drama depicting the journey of a family and their great-aunt to Arlington National Cemetery to visit the grave of the aunt’s husband.
As the family traveled, they visited landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty and talked about the freedoms and blessings Americans enjoy and the role of the military in protecting those freedoms.
Servicemen and women stood as the choir sung the hymns of their branches during the “Salute to the Armed Forces.”
The choir honored them further by having them stand at the front of the church during “God Bless the USA.”
The walls were hung with American flags pinned with the names of past servicemen and women.
“Each one of our members’ lives is touched by the military,” Harwell said.
“So we ask them to bring flags placed on caskets and put them on the walls.”
One of the flags was placed in memory of Chuck Allen, the husband of Dot Lewis, a member of the church.
“[The service] makes you miss those that you’ve lost,” Lewis said. “So many have.”
Cardwell spoke at the close of the program, reminding the audience that God has blessed America but not to take those blessings nor those who protect them for granted.
“We are truly a blessed nation, but I believe we have taken many of those blessings for granted,” Cardwell said. “We need to continue to pray for the president, military, firefighters, policemen … and others. We take them for granted as they protect us and preserve our freedoms.”
“I truly believe God has His hand on this nation, and we don’t need to let those forces out there … take God away.”
Perhaps the narrator, Rebekah Harmon, said it best before the choir sang “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”
She recited, “In the aftermath of the … terrorist attacks on Oklahoma City, New York City and Washington D.C., we are once again reminded that just as the benefits of freedom touch all our lives, so do the costs. We are now more aware than ever that it takes divine intervention to give us the wisdom and courage to protect all that we hold sacred.”
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