By Amanda Monk
Moapa Valley Progress
A devotional program commemorating Independence Day was held on Sunday evening, July 4 in the Overton Senior. The room was decked in cheery red, white, and blue decor for the occasion. About 70 people attended the event which was the first of its kind to be held in the community.
Master of Ceremonies, Bret Staley began the evening by paying tribute to July 4th Celebration Committee Chairwoman Jacqulyn Pray. He thanked her for her outstanding attitude during what he deemed an unnecessary attack on the committee this year. “I saw her putting aside differences and coming out a bigger person,” said Staley.
Overton resident Kristine Leach performed a beautiful rendition of The Star Spangled Banner with Linda Lyon accompanying at the piano. Cellist Grant Pray performed a medley of patriotic songs.
Local WWII veteran, David Fox, who serves as chaplain for the local VFW Post, was the next speaker. “I come from what is known as The Greatest Generation,” Fox announced. He spoke about the members of his generation who had been willing to stand up and give their all for their country.
The final speaker of the evening was 2010 Moapa Valley Spirit Award recipient, Robert W. Smiley. “This award has traditionally been presented to community members that have dedicated 30 to 100 years of service to our valley,” Staley said in his introduction. “Bob has packed that much into just a decade.”
Smiley’s speech was uplifting and full of optimism. He thanked the young children sitting in the front row for coming, listening, and being well behaved for such a program. He wanted to especially give the young of the valley a chance to hear what he feels school, news, and history books now lack. He spoke of the day in 1776 that 56 signers made history by signing the Declaration of Independence. This was truly another greatest generation that had preceded the one spoken of by Fox. Smiley believed that the future for America is bright. “There will be another greater generation,” he said. “In that generation you will hear of the larger than life figures and ordinary people who will lead us in our existence.”
Smiley pondered the question: What is the bond that ties us together with our forefather from 234 years ago? “Being equal before the law,” he answered. “It doesn’t matter if anything else in life wasn’t equal. Being equal before the law is what links us to our past.”
He finished with a question for the members of the audience to answer for themselves. “Will we be able to preserve our freedoms? he asked. “It’s up to We the People.”
A 17 min, Academy Award winning, short movie “Declaration of Independence” was then shown to end the program.
