TRAFFIC

God and Country Festival rings in patriotic week in Nampa

The annual event celebrates freedom with military honors, Christian music and big-time fireworks.

BY AIMEE NILES - aniles@idahostatesman.com

Copyright: © 2009 Idaho Statesman

Published: 07/02/09

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Idaho Statesman

Angela Ivie, center, of Nampa, and her daughters, Megan, 12, left, and Sasha, 14, create their own shade during Wednesday's God and Country Festival at the Idaho Center Amphitheater in Nampa.

ELSEWHERE

Independence Day is still two days away, but patriotic fervor was in full swing Wednesday at Nampa's Idaho Center amphitheater for the 43rd annual God and Country Festival.

"We're celebrating the freedom to worship and the freedoms we all enjoy as Americans," festival President Carol Andrews said.

The event attracted about 12,500 people this year, Andrews said.

"This is just awesome," said first-time attendee David Allen of Nampa. "I work with the Lighthouse Mission (in Nampa) and we brought 12 guys, and this is just a blast to be able to come and worship like this."

The schedule included a variety of performers, including well-known contemporary Christian artist Brandon Heath and a band of local music ministers.

The God and Country Festival is actually the reason Marie Santos, 47, of Meridian moved to the area.

"I was visiting some friends here over the Fourth and I came to the festival," she said. "I thought, wow, if they can have a festival like this, it must be a great community to live in. There just aren't things like this in other parts of the country."

The festival also included a signing of what is known as a Community Covenant.

The secretary of the Army initiated the covenant to have communities do a public display and acknowledge support for the military, said Army Capt. Dennis Compton. State and local leaders signed a copy of the covenant that eventually will hang in the governor's office, said Patty Symes, director of the festival.

Actor Chuck Connors founded the festival, originally called the God and Country Rally, in the 1960s to honor the belief that America was founded on Christian principles and faith in God. The rallies were a way to honor returning Vietnam War veterans as well, Andrews said.

"Now we have the opportunity to honor a new generation of veterans," she said.

Aimee Niles: 377-6439

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