Independence Day is a time to remember the fallen, from Bunker Hill to the beaches of Normandy to the deserts of Iraq. This year, the holiday is also a time to reflect upon those lost in a war that came home to Orlando.
Forty-nine people were killed in act of terror at the Pulse Nightclub last month. They were honored Friday during St. Timothy Catholic Church’s “Celebrate America” annual holiday program. Both concerts were sold-out and attracted overflow crowds.
This was a solemn, poignant and, spiritual program that also featured a joyous bond of community and country.
“America is a great country and The Villages is a great place to live,” said Maestro Bill Doherty, who organized the program and directed St. Timothy’s 130-member choir.
But terrorism has a way of attacking countries in places even as peaceful as Central Florida. Doherty personally knew three of the victims; they were his music students.
“When tragedy strikes, it tends to pull us together as Americans,” Doherty said during intermission. “It makes us closer, stronger and braver. That’s why terrorism will never win. God is good and God is love, and love will always conquer hate.”
That spiritual optimism was a theme of the program.
“What happened in Orlando is so sad,” said tenor Devin Eatmon who sang “The Ones Left Standing,” a heartfelt tribute to those murdered. “This song is about how we, the living, respond. We mourn their loss but we all still have work to do to make this a better world.”
Watch video of the show here:
Kathleen Kane followed Eatmon, with another gripping, emotional performance on “Bring Him Home,” from “Les Miserables.” Then young Chase De Carlo came to the center of the church to sing “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”
Those songs created a pensive mood and uplifting spirit. Sam Reynolds took it to another level.
“When I was a kid, I always loved listening to George Beverly Shea,” Reynolds said. Shea used to sing in a booming voice at Billy Graham Crusades. His trademark hymn was “How Great Thou Art.”
“I get tears in my eyes when I sing this song and I’m going to do it tonight,” Reynolds said. “We need to put God back into our country. But I’m not here to do a sermon, I’m here to sing.”
Reynolds sang from deep in his heart and the people in the church were transfixed in what seemed like a prayerful, spiritual embrace. It was an electrifying performance.
But it wasn’t the only one.
Heather Beirne Ard started the program out, appropriately enough with an operatic and stirring, “Star Spangled Banner.” She didn’t just sing the first stanza, as is common, but all the stanzas in the song.
Andrew Struhar then brought strong but introspective lyrics to Simon and Garfunkel’s “America.” Debbie Garrett offered a soulful and spiritual “The Water is Wide and Deep River.”
The St. Timothy Handbell Choir was in perfect tune on “Let Freedom Ring” and “America The Beautiful.” Then came a salute to all members of the Armed Forces in the church.
Later, Reynolds had some fun, singing about Chicago on “My Kind of Town.” Garrett, not to be outdone, put plenty of kick into another Sinatra standard, “New York, New York.”
The program ended with everyone joining in on “God Bless America.”
