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Inspirational Event
Held Thurs. Evening
At Hal Henard School
BY JIM FELTMAN
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Music and history were combined for an inspirational fundraising event for the Greeneville Volunteer Center on Thursday evening in the auditorium of Hal Henard Elementary School.
A "Patriotic Extravaganza for America's Promise" was sponsored by the Greeneville Adventist Academy and focused on Greeneville as a presidential town, and the U.S. military's important role in the community.
President Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by Chris Small, recalled his early connections with Greeneville through his uncle, Mordecai Lincoln, and his later association with his future vice president, Andrew Johnson, of Greeneville.
Between performances by the Greeneville High School Jazz Band and country-music-duo Russ and Becky Jeffers, the Lincoln reenactor told a series of stories about 16th president's, experiences and feelings on politics, patriotism, the importance of the military, and the horror of war.
"More than 600,000 men died in the struggle to unite our country [the Civil War]... It is now time to plant seeds in the earth, not men," he said.
Russ and Becky Jeffers alternated performances with Lincoln and the Jazz Band. The husband-and-wife team played a variety of old-time gospel and country music songs mixed in with a few early pop favorites.
The Jeffers performed over 15,000 shows from 1974-1997 at Opryland USA, where they introduced "Bluegrass Music" to people from all over the world.
Russ Jeffers also told a few colorful stories about the common people of Appalachia from the earliest days through World War II, with an underlying moral reflecting the basic values of hard work, strong faith, and love of country.
GHS JAZZ BAND
The Greeneville High School Jazz Band, directed by David Price, added its signature sound to the evening's entertainment with a variety of pieces, including "25 or 6 To 4," "America The Beautiful," "God Bless The USA," and an encore sing-along of "Hey, Jude."
The Greeneville Adventist Academy Choir performed a medley of the theme songs of the various armed services, and asked veterans to stand during their service's particular anthem.
Mary Fitzpatrick, executive director of the Volunteer Center, said the event raised about $2,000 for the center.
At the end of the event, Fitzpatrick recognized members of the Greeneville Adventist Academy ninth- and 10th-grade classes and thanked them for their assistance with some of the center's projects.
She then gave 16 members of the classes who were present the "President's Voluntary Service Awards," saying "These pins come from the president of the United States for your hard work as volunteers."
