| American 2003 remembers Thurmond |
| The America 2003 patriotic program
originally planned to be a welcome home celebration for our nations
troops, was revised to include a tribute to the late Senior Senator
Strom Thurmond. The Senator's family agreed to the change in the program. The celebration honored America's military and veterans. Senator Thurmond was a staunch military supporter and decorated war veteran himself, so organizers thought he should be honored at the event. Program director Steve Springhill says when the event was Celebrate Liberty, the Senator came every time he was able, "The Senator would get there early and stay later to shake everyone's hand and to talk to them." America 2003 was a combined effort of First Baptist Church downtown and Brookland Baptist Church. More than 1,000 performers from both churches, the military, and local schools participated in the celebration. |