Lily Alattar opened Red, White & Bluegrass on Veterans Day with the national anthem. Before the day was done at the Jack Wilcox Theater at PARC in Plymouth, Michigan, she had also sung “America the Beautiful” and “God Bless America,” joined the Edgar Loudermilk Band for several numbers, and given the crowd one of the highlights of the night: her take on Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.”
Starting With the Anthem
On Veterans Day, the national anthem is not a formality. Many of the people standing in that room had served under that flag. Lily sang it for them, and it set the tone for everything that followed.
“America the Beautiful” and “God Bless America” carried the same spirit. These are songs most of us learned as kids. Hearing them sung well, in a room full of veterans, on their day, means something.
On Stage With the Band
Lily did more than open the show. She joined headliner Edgar Loudermilk and his band for several songs. Standing in with a professional bluegrass band takes nerve and skill, and she brought both.
Her “Jolene” was a highlight of the night. Dolly Parton’s song is one everybody knows, which makes it hard to do your own way. Lily did.
The Rest of the Day
Red, White & Bluegrass, “Celebrating Our Nation, Honoring Our Heroes,” ran two live shows, at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM, with a national livestream for viewers across the country. Special guest Sandy Point opened the show. Quilts of Valor made a presentation, and Congressman Jack Bergman (Lt. Gen., USMC, Ret.) sent a video thank-you to everyone who attended and to the Elks.
The concert was hosted alongside the Plymouth–Ann Arbor Elks Lodge #325. Thank you to our sponsors and supporters: Paralyzed Veterans of America (Michigan Chapter), Veterans BRG (a UPS Business Resource Group), Veteran’s Disability Claims Assistance (VDCA), Everything Fraternal, Plymouth Rocks, Glover’s Heroes, Spark Nation and the City of Plymouth. Thanks also to production partners FERAL Entertainment and Heroes Media Group, and to PARC and Ryan Fisher, PARC’s Theater and Operations Coordinator.
Thank you, Lily, for lending your voice to our veterans. And thank you to every veteran who was there in person or watching from home.
Keep the Conversation Going
If you liked this, you will like Thirsty Thursdays: every Thursday, 4 to 6 PM at Right Brain Brewery in Traverse City, where blue-collar know-how meets STEM thinking over a cold one. It is free. Grab your free ticket, or tell us you want one started in your town.
See more from the day on the Red, White & Bluegrass event page.
