FAITH — “Let Freedom Ring,” a free family concert to be presented June 30 by the Faith Community Patriotic Chorus, will be held at Faith Baptist Church, 205 S. Main St., Faith. Fifty singers from 21 area churches will participate, honoring through music every active member and veteran of the United States Armed Forces.  

The program will be a blend of patriotism and religion, beginning with a prayer offered by Pastor Stephen DeWalt, the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem. Following will be the trio of Tony Herrin, Neal Wilkinson and Tim Williams singing “Under God.” Jason Harwood will direct, and Susan Trivette will be the piano accompanist. Dr. Karl Hales will serve as the narrator. 

Others accompanying will include Gretchen Tracy, cello; Carter Bradley, viola; Amy Crawford, trumpet and John Kirk, percussion. Soloists will be Morgan Brown, Josh Welch, Lydia Larios, Kaitlyn Bostian, Lee Roberts and Cindy Emerson.

Lt. Col. Tom Duncan with the United States Army and Captain Paul Luca will demonstrate the proper folding of the U.S. flag, and the chorus will sing “The Folded Flag” by Joseph Martin. During the concert, a slide show featuring local veterans and their families will also be shown.  

Daisy Bost, chief organizer of the event, has been involved with the Faith Community Patriotic Chorus for more than 40 years.

“It originally consisted of 15 choir members from three churches in Faith” she said. “I played the piano, and the concert was held outdoors in Faith Park on the Sunday prior to July 4, which is still the date. It was hot and there was a threat of a thunderstorm. Our theme was patriotic and continues to be so. We’ve grown significantly, thanks to our excellent directors, like Dean Orbison and Jason Harwood, and word of mouth. I look forward to the Sunday after Mother’s Day, when practice begins each year. I think this year’s concert will be spectacular.” 

Bost is assisted by Jayne Lingle and Pam Alexander, “neither of whom I could do without,” she said.

Participating churches will be Faith Lutheran, Faith Baptist, Lyerly Evangelical, Wittenberg Lutheran, Piedmont Baptist, College Park Baptist, St. James Catholic, First Baptist Rockwell, Grace Lutheran, Mt. Moriah Lutheran, Organ Lutheran, St. John’s Lutheran Salisbury, Calvary Baptist Tabernacle, First Baptist Salisbury, Immanuel Lutheran, Mt. Zion UCC, Shiloh Methodist, St. Paul’s Lutheran, Bethel United Methodist, Dayspring Community Church and First UCC Salisbury.  

Soprano Patsy Parnell summed up the thoughts of many other participants as they said, “Singing for many years with the talented vocalists, musicians and directors of the Faith Community Chorus has been a real joy. It’s great fun and I look forward to being part of this patriotic service every summer.”  

Robert Huff said that this would be the first time singing with the group. 

“My dad was pastor at Faith Baptist Church in the ’50s and ’60s. While I haven’t lived here since 1968, I consider it home, and I have never missed being in Faith on the fourth of July since those early days. While I have attended the patriotic concert many times, this will be my first time participating. It is challenging,” he said. “The reward is the excitement to join friends in this part of the celebration.”

Prior to the concert, the Rowan Big Band Allstars will begin playing at 3:30 p.m., with the concert set to start at 5 p.m. Those in the audience are encouraged to wear some combination of red, white and blue.

There will be plenty of parking available, and food booths and rides will also be available afterward.