Home of the Brave

Tonight, the Farragut High School Choir presented a stirring patriotic concert, “Home of the Brave.”

Basically, if you were in attendance and weren’t moved by the wonderful patriotic music, then you must be very unfeeling. Looking around the Wells Auditorium @ FHS, I could tell there were many sets of moist eyes welling up – many of them on stage.

The FHS choral program is really quite good (just as is the FHS drama program). I’m not just writing this because I have a teen involved in the program. It was a truly moving concert. 

An alumnus of FHS, I have to admit, I don’t think I even attended an FHS choral concert when I was a student (unless, of course, it came during the school day) or afterward until Paul became a part of the choir.

Honestly, I missed out.

Choral director Kenton Deitch does a wonderful job and it’s clear that his students respect him tremendously and learn much from his direction.

But tonight’s program went much beyond just the wonderful young musical talents on stage – including a group of singers from the Intermediate School who added an extra dimension to the show.

With Veteran’s Day just around the corner, tonight’s concert was a tribute to those brave men and women who fight and serve to keep our country safe. Many former servicemen and women were on-hand. And as the choir sang each of the service hymns, those individuals were asked to stand and they were honored by the crowd as they took their place by the flag of their particular branch of the military.

Paul and I will witness a very similar scene at the Titans game on Sunday.  Each year, at halftime of the game closest to Veteran’s Day, the Titans pay a similar tribute to former and current servicemen and women.

It’s one thing when you see that play out in front of 68,000+ spectators but it has a more intimate feel when 300 are gathered.

And on a chilly, rainy night on the outside of Farragut High School, the patriotic spirit was quite warm on the inside.

JG

Originally posted 11/3/2011