What better way to celebrate July 4th (or at least the July 4th weekend) than spending time with fellow patriots, who fight alongside each other for the future of our nation?
That is what the New Jersey team did on Saturday, July 3rd. Early that morning, the team converged on Van Saun Park, cleaning, drying, decorating, and setting up a pavilion for the day's festivities. Inside the pavilion, a flag was put up, food was set out, and activities and games were prepared for children.
Because the venue was on a walking path, the team set up a tent with literature in it alongside some signage to draw in passers-by.
The event lasted from 10am to 5pm and drew in new signers, folks walking by, and established volunteers. The seven hours flew by as COS supporters fellowshipped, educated park attendees about COS, and participated in the program Regional Captain Bob Nordin had put together and emceed.
At around lunch time, the group said the Pledge of Allegiance and sang the National Anthem together. The Nordins had also prepared songsheets with multiple patriotic hymns for everyone there, and everyone later participated in a patriotic sing-along. Bob Nordin rounded out the official program with some patriotic trivia, complete with prizes for the winners.
Special thanks to State Videographer Don MacLeay for requesting to have the event and for his video work throughout; to Sherry Man for securing the pavilion; to Bob and Francesca Nordin for putting the event together; to State Director Chris Garzino for working the grill; and to all the volunteers who showed up, set up, cleaned up, and helped in a myriad of other ways.
