To the editor:
Kudos to the Lewistown Community Band and "The Let Freedom Ring" Chorus for an outstanding performance Sunday evening, July 1 at South Main Street, Lewistown, in front of the Embassy Theatre sponsored by Friends of the Embassy. It was a beautiful summer evening for the band and chorus to give this Fourth of July concert and Paul Fagley shared words of welcome to everyone and thanked all for coming.
With the sound of the drum roll and all eyes on the band director Peter Marsh, everyone got to their feet, many placed their hands over their heart and all hats and caps were removed as the band played our 'Star Spangled Banner."
Marj Davidson is spokesperson for the band and she shares thoughts about the next number by the band and it was "Olympic Fanfare" by John Williams, followed by "Aces of the Air" and she then tells the story of the "Gershwin Medley."
It is now time for the presentation of the "Colonel Bogey March" and sharing the evening with all those in attendance are dancers from Miss Stephanie's School of Dance with huge smiles on their faces they performed well and a rousing applause was given them by the audience.
The dancers who shared in the evening were Finnian Saylor, Katherine Crowder, Megan Ingram, Mariah Stimely, Amanda Henry and Makayla Sheaffer. Thanks to all of you for a job well done.
Next on the agenda is "Cumberland Cross" followed by Marj introducing Terry Limes directing the band for two numbers, they being "Phantom Regiment" and "Golden Age of Broadway."
It is now time to hear the POW-MIA tribute from Commander Brad Williams from Chapter 13 of the Disabled American Veterans, and as you listened to his presentation the word remember was shared several times. He closed with a heart warming prayer. Thanks Brad.
The band resumes play and we listen to "American Folk Fantasy" followed by the band under the direction of Peter Marsh and chorus under the direction of Terry Limes sharing the "Armed Forces Salute" "Pride of America" and presenting colors of the various branches of service were the Honor Guard from VFW Post 7011. Marj would announce the branch of service and if you served in that branch you were to stand up and the applause gave you goose bumps.
The chorus continued their singing of "God Bless the USA" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and it didn't take much to bring tears to your eyes as they sang these beautiful songs. Thanks Terry and all the chorus people.
The closing number for the evening was the march loved by all, John Philip Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever" and as the chorus sang flags were being waved back and forth and held high in tribute to a land of the free and home of the brave.
My thanks to the Honor Guard from VFW Post 7011, Commander Brad Williams for sharing his POW-MIA tribute, to all the musicians who have worked tirelessly for the past months to ready themselves for this evening's presentation, to Peter Marsh and Terry Limes for their dedication to make this event happen and to all the chorus people who worked along with the band to give an outstanding performance and to Marj for the interesting information she shares about the numbers played by the band and to Friends of the Embassy for sponsoring this concert.
Once again I say thank you for a wonderful evening of music, dance and remembering and thank you for an awesome crowd of people who came to the Embassy to take in a one-of-a-kind concert.
I also thank all of our military men and women who are on the front lines of foreign countries to allow freedom to happen here in Mifflin County, our state of Pennsylvania and the United States of America.
I for one am proud to be an American and pray God will continue to bless America.
God bless America!
Sis Norton
McVeytown
