TEXARKANA, Texas -The Sacred Heart Catholic Church celebrated America's 250th birthday with hamburgers, desserts and patriotic music.
The music was performed by the Texarkana Regional Chorale and the Sacred Heart Choir conducted by Marc-Andre Bougie and Mary Scott Smith on the piano.
The event was free and open to the public to show appreciation of American freedom, following the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
"This evening we're having a patriotic concert as we commemorate 250 years of being a nation," said Father Justin Braun. "We started this last year as an opportunity to use the gift of voice, we have a great choir, but we also cooperate with choirs from other churches; we are bringing together this year 35 voices to sing classic patriotic songs, songs that ring for the armed forces, songs that help us remember and celebrate the nation that we are so blessed to be a part of."
Conductor Bougie said this is the second year to celebrate America's freedom at Sacred Heart, and it is becoming a tradition for the church and the Texarkana Regional Chorale.
The chorale's first patriotic event was held in April and tonight this was the last, closing just before the Fourth of July.
This year has been a celebration, said Bougie, and the members enjoy singing the patriotic music and the audiences love it too.