By Bob Braddy
An enthusiastic crowd of patriotic Americans filled the auditorium of the Dillon County Theater last Sunday afternoon, November 17. They had assembled to join the performers on stage in paying tribute to our veterans for their bravery and sacrifice over the years in defending our nation’s freedom.
Major General James Lockemy, SCNG, sharply attired in his dress blue officer’s uniform, served as Master of Ceremonies. Robin Thompson, who served with both Gen. Lockemy and Mrs. Myrna Garris as a co-producer of the show, directed the musical portions of the program. The mixed chorus included singers Gerald Berry, Arlene Boyd, Nancy Clay, Ashley Costas, Shipp Daniel, Henry Jones, Rebecca Thompson, and Shaw Thompson.
The program began with the procession of all the previous Dillon County Veterans of the Year, accompanied by boy scouts and justice rangers, as the ensemble of singers sang “My Country, ’Tis of Thee.” The audience then joined in to sing “The Star Spangled Banner.” The Pledge of Allegiance followed, as did an invocation led by the Reverend Fred Gough.
A touching recollection of each of our country’s calls to battle, beginning with the Revolutionary War and continuing to our present conflict in Afghanistan, was given by General Lockemy. As he spoke, pictures depicting and recalling these conflicts were displayed by a powerpoint slideshow on a large screen, and the singers sang appropriate songs. A fitting reminder of the many veterans whose lives were lost in combat and who could not return was the singing of “Empty Chairs and Empty Tables” by Shipp Daniel. A further touching reminder of the many casualties who were buried in U.S. military graveyards around the world was the playing of “Taps” by Kurt Slaughenhoupt and the singing of “Blades of Grass and Pure White Stones” by the chorus.
The audience was entertained during intermission by piano duets played by Robin Thompson and Leah Stephens, one of Thompson’s piano students. The various branches of the service were asked to stand as the chorus sang the signature song of each branch.
Following the brief intermission, the tribute turned to the 1960’s and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. The era when Kennedy and his wife Jackie occupied the White House became known as the “Camelot Era.” Henry Jones, baritone soloist, sang a touching rendition of “The Impossible Dream,” accompanied by photos on the screen that depicted many of the events and people who were prominent during this time. The assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., which occurred shortly after Kennedy’s assassination, was commemorated by the recitation of Reverend King’s “I Have a Dream” speech by Barbara Murray.
The chorus sang a moving rendition of “Eternal Father, Strong To Save” as part of the remembering of this tragic event. Several members of the audience stood and recalled where they were and what they were doing when they heard the shocking news that President Kennedy had been shot.
The production concluded with a rendition of “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” by soloist Henry Jones and “Let There Be Peace On Earth” by the chorus. Then Rebecca Thompson led the audience in singing “God Bless America.”
David Boyd is to be commended for the masterful job he did in accumulating the multiple pictures used in the powerpoint showing. They added greatly to the effectiveness of the presentation.
It was, indeed, “A Time To Remember,” and this show will be remembered by those present for many years to come.
