Morgan Hill came alive Independence Day weekend with singing,
dancing, bands and even a little history. Festivities kicked off on
Saturday with the Patriotic Sing in the Britton Middle School gym,
where children from first through seventh grades came together to
sing songs that celebrate America.
Morgan Hill came alive Independence Day weekend with singing, dancing, bands and even a little history.
Festivities kicked off on Saturday with the Patriotic Sing in the Britton Middle School gym, where children from first through seventh grades came together to sing songs that celebrate America.
The gym was completely decorated with flags, posters and stars all hanging from the walls and basketball hoops. But the main feature was the children who were dressed in red, white or blue sitting in bleachers opposite the audience. Balloons of red white and blue with a huge red star framed the children who were arranged like an American flag.
Karen Crane, who organizes the event, went out in May to the different elementary schools, both public and private, within Morgan Hill and the Morgan Hill School District.
The Patriot Sing was opened, following the Pledge of Allegiance and national anthem, by speeches from Mayor Dennis Kennedy and Independence Day Inc. President Daryl Manning.
“Thank you kids for all the hard work and preparation you put in this,” Kennedy said. He also thanked all the service men and women who fought, died and are still fighting ove seas.
Also honored were those who fought in any of the four branches of the military with a medley of songs. Members in the audience rose when their branch was called, along with children who had family or friends in any of the services.
“It was wonderful,” said Capt. Harold Harvey of the United States Marines (Ret.). “It shows the true spirit of America. They should do this every week instead of once a year. People need to know how important freedom and the Marines are.”
The Patriotic Sing not only featured the spoken word in song, but also the written word in essays. More than 300 children from elementary schools wrote essays about what they would like to salute about America. Winners of the essay contest, from two age categories, were presented with prizes for first through third.
Immediately following the Patriotic Sing, the community went into downtown to enjoy the Street Dance.
Music and the smell of food filled the air as people danced, ate, socialized and enjoyed themselves.
“It’s a nice atmosphere,” said Morgan Hill resident Chris Filice. “There’s good food, good music and this is a fun place to be.”
It was a family affair with people bringing their children and their dogs out to enjoy the evening.
Councilman Larry Carr, who brought his family out, was impressed with not only the turn out, but also how the entire night, as well as events for the weekend came together.
“The volunteers do a superb job,” Carr said. “The put in countless hours
Entertaining the crowd were The Usual Suspects who played a variety of rock and roll tunes by various artists.
The event, best described as a mini Taste of Morgan Hill, had vendors selling food that could be smelled for blocks, drinks and other goodies.
And Sunday as the last of the entries finished and clean-up crews began their work, thoughts of next year were already on the minds of event organizers. Each year, the festivities for the fourth are run by IDI plans each event more than a year in advance.
Next year’s theme has already been chosen, said Maureen Hunt, Bob Hunt’s wife. It’s ‘America, my Home Sweet Home.’
While his mind may already be gearing to July, 2005, Bob Hunt was thrilled with how the whole day came together.
“It was fantastic and that’s the least I can say,” Hunt proclaimed. “This just keeps getting better every year.”
Maureen agreed with her husband who was all smiles at the parade’s conclusion.
“This was a magnificent parade,” Hunt said. “All the groups have been great.”
