Concert honors American heroes
A Blackhawk helicopter landed in Harrison Park yesterday as part of First Baptist Church of Ellijay’s (FBC) America 250 Patriotic Celebration.
The crowd of excited visitors waiting to see it felt the wind of its rotors as the machine landed, crewed by five Army National Guardsmen from the first detachment of the 111th Medical Evacuation unit.
One of the guardsmen on the helicopter, Sergeant Jacob Brown, said America’s 250th anniversary was a huge milestone and that he was glad to see the crowds celebrating.
He and his fellow crew members risk much to help protect the country and rescue wounded soldiers.
“We risk our lives every day going out there,” he said. “We go in and save lives, no matter if you’re in a high-stress combat situation or if it’s just an easy pickup site.
After the roaring rotors came to a halt shortly after 4 p.m., visitors of all ages got to see the helicopter up close.
Some lucky kids got to sit in the cockpit.
“I thought the inside was different, kind of like a car” child Josiah Coulter said of the helicopter. “But it surprised me how it was.”
Brown and the rest of his crew have been together for two years.
He holds a special connection to his role as part of a medical helicopter team. His brother once got a life flight from a Blackhawk helicopter.
“It means the world to me to be able to help others the way he was helped,” Brown said.
The helicopter arrived for the occasion with the permission of National Guard Major General Richard Wilson, a speaker at the FBC’s patriotic concert.
FBC’s pastor, Josh Moyers, is an active-duty National Guard member under his command.
At 6:00 p.m., the church started a patriotic concert at its downtown sanctuary.
Hundreds of people attended.
A choir and band gave passionate renditions of the Star-Spangled Banner, the Armed Forces anthems, America the Beautiful and other patriotic songs.
The church recognized and honored veterans for their service to the United States.
More than 40 veterans were in attendance.
The concert included patriotic readings and speeches as well.
“The true spirit of America isn’t found in the next news cycle,” Wilson said. “It’s found in communities, just like right here in Elijay, and in the quiet, resilient spaces of each of our daily lives.
Some of the music and speeches celebrated America’s legacy and the sacrifices that gave us a country.
Others struck a more somber tone, emphasizing that American culture has been turning away from God toward philosophies that reject the idea of objective truth.
One song’s lyrics were drawn from the Bible verse 2 Chronicles 7:14, which reads, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
In response to America’s divisions, the concert at FBC called for the nation to repent and follow God.
“Our forefathers built this country upon the principles of God’s word,’” Moyers said. “Yet today, we find ourselves drifting further and further from that foundation.”
After the concert, attendees lined up to get free snow cones courtesy of Wilson.