Would you like to be involved in a tribute to our troops? Would you like to hear children from our community sing the Patriotic songs of our country? Would you like to invite friends and family to honor a local military hero?
Then the 2019 Freedom Fest Patriotic Sing is perfect for you! The 31ST annual Freedom Fest Patriotic Sing will be held on Wednesday, July 3rd from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center. Our 2019 performance will reflect Freedom Fest’s Theme this year, “Sing the Songs of America.” Our chorus and audience will honor members of our Armed Forces who have served our country in the past as well as those courageous men and women who are currently serving in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard.
The Patriotic Sing features elementary school-aged children from Morgan Hill and San Martin. The original goal of the Patriotic Sing was to teach the words of beloved Patriotic songs to children. While teaching first grade at Westwings Elementary School on Vandenberg Air Force Base, I witnessed patriotism daily.
As a school, we would raise and lower the American flag as one of the 6th grade students served as a bugler. Each day, Patriotic songs would fill the hallways. In 1970, when I moved to San Jose and began teaching, I was astonished that the children in my first grade class did not know the words to “God Bless America”, or “America the Beautiful”. This revelation, for me, was life-changing.
HISTORY
In 1989, two Morgan Hill residents, Dr. Ronald Mackley and Hal Hendrickson, decided to return to that tradition. The Sing returned, as a way to teach the treasured songs of our country to our community’s children. And, on its return, the Sing was held on the eve of the 4th of July and continues so today.
Soon the chorus members knew the words to our traditional songs and once again, the Sing reinvented itself. During the past several years, the Sing has become a way for our community’s children to understand and honor the sacrifices made by our Armed Forces members. Over the past thirty, I have had the gift of watching the evolution of the Sing. We now have second-generation chorus members!
In 2015, the Sing changed once again. We moved our performance to the Morgan Hill Community Cultural Center Amphitheater. Families and friends enjoyed our new venue. It was the perfect place to celebrate a home-town 4th of July. This year, we will return to the CCC on Tuesday, July 3rd, at 6 p.m.
LOCATION
Morgan Hill Downtown Amphitheater Community & Cultural Center
17000 Monterey Rd, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Please join us at this year’s Patriotic Sing. Plan to rekindle your patriotism as you listen to the songs of “America, Our Home Sweet Home.” We hope you enjoy this year’s Sing. Here, you’ll see the faces of our future. Those faces show respect, enthusiasm, pride, and a spirit of patriotism as we sing the songs of America and honor those who serve.
Rehearsal Dates and Times
Children must attend four rehearsals. Because we need T-shirt sizes, children must attend one of the first two rehearsals. Parents should remain with the children during rehearsals.
Tuesday
May 28, Britton Gym - 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Tuesday
June 4, Britton Gym - 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Tuesday
June 11, Britton Gym - 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Tuesday
June 18, Community Cultural Center - 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Tuesday
June 25, Community Cultural Center - 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Monday
July 2, Dress Rehearsal, Community Cultural Center - 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Wednesday
July 3RD: 31TH ANNUAL PATRIOTIC SING 6 TO 7 p.m. Community Cultural Center
Because we need to have sizes for our chorus T-shirts, chorus members should plan to attend at least one of our first two rehearsals. Remember, Morgan Hill Pony Baseball may be playing on the Britton fields and parking may be a challenge. Be patient and be prepared to walk a bit.
Every participating child must be accompanied by an adult who is responsible for him/her. PLEASE DO NOT DROP OFF ANY CHILD AND LEAVE HIM/HER UNATTENDED. If you carpool to practice, please make sure a responsible adult remains with the children.
At our rehearsals, we will be collecting items to be sent to our deployed troops. We will learn about various support groups which serve our Armed Forces members. Guests of Honor will include members of our Armed Forces, Veterans, “Blue Star Moms” and alumni chorus members who are now serving our country.
Download the Rehearsal Note Flyer
Members of our chorus participate in various community service projects. At each rehearsal, children are encouraged to bring items to be donated to our deployed soldiers.
With the support of the Blue Star Moms, our donations of batteries, socks, and other items on the soldier’s wish list, are delivered in “Care Packages” to deployed soldiers. At the Sing, members of our audience and chorus are encouraged to write a note of encouragement to our deployed soldiers. During the year, we also sing at Morgan Hill’s annual Veterans’ and Memorial Day Ceremonies.
Local children are invited to join our chorus, there are no fees involved. Freedom Fest’s children’s activities cost over $3,000 annually.
We welcome all financial support.
FREEDOM FEST ESSAY CONTEST
This year’s Freedom Fest Theme, American Women have accomplished so much in the last century.
“If you could write a thank you note to an American woman, who would it be? Why”
Essays should be no longer than one page in length for students in Grades 2 and 3, and no longer than two pages in length for students in Grades 4 and 5. Students should place their name, school, grade level, and teacher’s name on the back of their essay.
Essays are due Thursday, April 23th
Classroom teachers should collect the essays on Thursday, April 23th, and deliver them to the school office where they will be collected on Friday, April 24th. Essays may also be turned in at Booksmart by Friday, April 24th.
1st Prize Winners in Primary and Upper Grades win $100
2nd and 3rd Prize Winners in Primary and Upper Grades win $50
All six winners will receive trophies, T-shirts, and will be Guests of Honor as they ride on a fire truck in Morgan Hill’s 4th of July Parade!
Winning essays will be published in Freedom Fest’s 4th of July Program of Events.
Thanking You!
