Freedom Speak
Sing along Tuesday, June 30
— III. The program

The evening, hour by hour.

Speeches, songs, prayers, and ceremony — threaded across two hours under the Fingernail. Arrive early for the pre-show.

Tuesday, June 30, 2026 6:00 – 8:00 PM Howard Amon Park

Pre-show.

From 5:50 PM
  1. 5:50
    Musical pre-show
    Pre-show entertainment

Hour one.

6:00 – 7:00 PM
  1. 6:00
    Welcome
    Welcome, overview & introductions
    Sam Cooley
  2. 6:05
    Invocation
    Opening prayer
    Chaplain Wiberg · WA National Guard
  3. 6:10
    Ceremony
    Presentation of the colors
    Mid-Columbia SAR Color Guard
  4. 6:20
    Song
    National Anthem
    Ms. Jennifer Gunter, soloist
  5. 6:25
    Speech (3 min)
    Principles from Common Sense
    Kelly Schultz · SAR
  6. 6:30
    Speech
    Revolutionary Concepts
    Robi Sen
  7. 6:40
    Speech
    Tempest in a Teapot
    Christy McElroy · DAR
  8. 6:50
    Speech
    A Soldier's Life in 1776
    Steve Lehto

Hour two.

7:00 – 8:00 PM
  1. 7:00
    Speech
    A Divine Influence
    Bishop Christopher Childers · LDS
  2. 7:10
    Speech
    Women in the Revolution
    Christine Crowder · DAR
  3. 7:20
    Speech
    A Diverse Nation
    Arthur Broady
  4. 7:30
    Song
    America the Beautiful
    Tri-City Choral Fusion
  5. 7:35
    Speech
    Why America?
    Russ Herath
  6. 7:45
    Speech
    Freedom to be me, 250 years later
    Dr. Catherine Wiberg
  7. 7:55
    Closing speech
    Let freedom live
    Brian Kreitzer

Closing.

8:00 – 8:20 PM
  1. 8:05
    Recognition
    All speakers return to stage
    For applause, then remaining for the closing song and benediction
  2. 8:10
    Closing song
    My Country 'Tis of Thee
    Community singing led by Ms. Jennifer Gunter
  3. 8:15
    Closing remarks
    Final reflections
    Sam Cooley
  4. 8:20
    Benediction
    Closing prayer
    Speaker to be announced
✦

Speeches run five to seven minutes each. Times approximate.

The full program is non-political, family-friendly, and alcohol-free. Bring lawn chairs, picnic blankets, and snacks.

— Sing along

Lift every voice.

Four songs threaded through the evening — including three in the public domain that we'll sing together. Lyrics live on a phone-friendly page you can pull up on the night.

Open the lyrics page → Back to home