Sunday’s annual Church Patriotic Music Program at the Decatur County Memorial Coliseum featured choral and band performances.

The program, held the Sunday before the July 4 Independence Day celebration each year, featured the First Baptist Church choir under the direction of Music Minister, the Rev. Art Bruce, and members of the Bainbridge community band under the direction of Morningside Baptist Church Minister of Music Education, Randall Terry.

Also sponsoring the program were Calvary Baptist Church and First United Methodist Church.

The program began with the band playing “America the Beautiful” and the audience singing along.

Following the presentation of the colors by the Bainbridge High School Air Force Junior ROTC color guard, retired Air Force colonel and long time ROTC program director Gary Breedlove led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

It was followed by the band playing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

A highlight of the program came when veterans of each branch of military service marched in behind their service flag. Pictures of each branch then appeared on a video screen accompanied by their song.

Each branch lined up behind their flag accompanied by local children. The band accompanied the audience who sang the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

The prayer of thanksgiving was given by First Baptist Church pastor the Rev. Paul Medley.

The program ended with the band playing John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.”