Northampton Area School District held an outdoor musical event May 27 at the band shell at Municipal Park, Laubach Avenue and Smith Lane, Northampton. The chorus groups from the elementary, middle and high schools sang patriotic songs under the direction of music teachers in their grade for the Stars, Stripes and Song concert.

Students from Siegfried, Lehigh, George Wolf and Moore elementary schools all sang patriotic music with their tender, young voices. Their singing was heartwarming.

The Northampton Area Middle School and Northampton Area High School students added a more mature tenor to their excellent singing.

The concert closed with all the students singing together on and in front of the band shell. The elementary students were clearly excited to be singing with high schoolers.

The concert set list included “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless the USA” from NAHS students, “My America” by NAMS students, “This Land is Your Land” from George Wolf students, “Oh, I Love America” by Lehigh students, “Freedom Will Light the Way” from Siegfried students, ”We Celebrate America” from Moore students and “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and “God Bless America” from all the students together.

NAHS music teacher Emily Reinsmith, from Schuylkill County, was the mistress of ceremonies who presented American history questions to the attendees to ponder before each school sang. After a few seconds, she would then provide the answers and introduce the next school chorus.

Reinsmith presented her mistress of ceremonies duties with enthusiasm and energy. When she introduced the high school singers to present their songs, she received a resounding applause from students and attendees as their teacher.

Lehigh Township Lions Club supported the concert. Lions Club members Anthony Risko and William Grim had a booth where they politely handed out free water bottles and small American flags for attendees.

Gary Becker, of Cherryville, was sitting in a nice chair enjoying the sounds of patriotism with his little 12-pound dog named Penny. Penny was bright eyed and did not make a sound during the concert.

The attendance was large with most of the grassy area in front of the band shell, all the way up toward the swimming pool, covered with parents, grandparents and the general public.

A particular favorite song was “God Bless the USA,” popularized by American country artist Lee Greenwood who wrote and recorded the iconic patriotic anthem, releasing it in 1984. The students sang beautifully with many adults attending singing along.

The free outdoor concert in Northampton was a delightful, emotional, multigenerational gathering of family, friends and residents. The value of the performance by the children cannot be calculated. It seemed everyone left satisfied, knowing this was a special evening.