Staff Writer

God Bless The USA was the title song of the patriotic musical program at Stephen Greene Baptist Church Sunday night.

The Lee Greenwood song was one of many sung by an interdenominational choir from nine churches in the area.

The choir was directed by Stephen Greene Baptist Church’s minister of music, Byron McCarty.

The patriotic musical was created by Sue C. Smith, Joel Lindsey and Russell Mauldin.

The joint choir practiced 90 minutes every Sunday afternoon for two months to prepare for this event says the pastor of Stephen Greene, Rev. Michael Cockrell.

Pastor Cockrell said that this was the first time they had done this type of patriotic program which was filled with patriotic and spiritual music.

He said he hopes this will be an annual events since it was so well received. The church was filled including the balcony.

The pastor went on to explain that a video presentation ran in conjunction with the music and included pictures of American landmarks, picturesque scenes and images of WWII, Viet Nam, Iraq and Afghanistan.

A song that was fun for those in attendance was called I Love These 50 States and it celebrated each state one by one says Rev. Cockrell.

The highlight for the pastor, a Viet Nam Veteran himself, was the “opportunity to thank veterans and current military personnel for their sacrifice”. Arm bands were given to those to be honored prior to the beginning of the program.

When the choir sang While There’s Time Rev. Cockrell asked those with armbands to stand and he then asked the congregation to “go to the heroes and thank then for making America great and our lives better.”

Many in attendance said it was a wonderful and moving experience.

Rev. Cockrell relayed the sentiments of a wounded Viet Nam Veteran who attends his church and who said “it meant a lot”.