Clicking on the image above will open a new page to show the embedded 1 minute video. Because this is a large Flash file that progressively downloads, it often takes a minute to complete its download before a computer browser will deliver a steady picture and song. We call this a “web development experiment.”
In the spirit and style of YouTube.com . . . I made this brief hand-held-amateur video of some teens performing at the July 4th celebration at Hunter Park in Douglasville, Georgia. Hunter Park is the end point for the annual Independence Day Parade and is reminiscent of a scene straight out of the movie and broadway musical “The Music Man” complete with barbecue tents, stilt-walkers, children’s games and brief stage and talent shows.
I’m not sure what it is about this group I find so charming, but I kept coming back to watch this on my computer. Their fragile performance reminds us that our country is a lot more like Douglasville than like Hollywood. I think this is part of the “grassroots” imagery of what America is about– hopeful, impressionable, innocent and down-to-earth.
This video makes me smile every time I watch it and sometimes it just cracks me up. Perhaps it’s the fact that these kids are rehearsing instead of performing. A proud mom came up behind me and started clapping right in my microphone as I began recording.
In proper YouTube fashion with a little serendipity mixed in, the video cut off abruptly just after the phrase “at least I know I’m free.” Soon after, the singers finished and the group left the stage and disbanded.
Norma and I are proud to be Americans because we’ve traveled across this great land and understand what we have here.
Let’s pause for a moment of silence to remember the victims of September 11, 2001 and the injury to the psyche of the world that this inflicted upon reasonable people everywhere, not just in the United States. Let us embrace this tremendous challenge we were presented with 5 years ago to overcome and prevent such incidents in the future and contemplate why those of us who live here should take pride in being Americans. —– Richard and Norma Nichols
September 11th, 2006 at 7:14 am
It was very touching. Thanks for sending this to me…Proud to be an American.
September 11th, 2006 at 8:05 am
Very nice, Richard and Norma. I like you’re thought that we are more Douglasville than Hollywood. Thanks for sharing this…especially today, 9/11.
September 11th, 2006 at 4:08 pm
I think there’s a lot of “Douglasville’s” across this land, all by their own name of course…and they’ve got Hollywood outnumbered. If our ancestors who have served in uniform could see this, they, too , would be proud of your tribute. We all have a lot to be thankful for. Thanks for your fine work.