NAMPA — Brylee Gulker sat in the grass with her friends and gazed toward the stage built prominently within Ford Idaho Center’s amphitheater while the featured speakers talked about their fondness of following God, loving each other and the importance of finding unity, along with other points that resonated well among the thousands who attended the 60th anniversary of the God and Country Festival of the Treasure Valley.
Gulker was impressed with the turnout and the overall feeling and atmosphere Wednesday night during Nampa’s big night.
“I think it’s an incredible celebration of our country,” said Gulker, of Caldwell. “It’s just a blessing that we can all get together and praise the Lord.”
While people spoke about God, the teachings of Jesus Christ and preached about importance of holding onto your faith during times of trouble and good tidings, “God has our back no matter what,” as one speaker said. Others spoke about supporting the country and its military veterans.
Many veterans lined up in front of the stage so the crowd could show respect to them. Then came a moment of silence for those who have fought and have given their lives in service to the country. Speakers on stage also showed reverence to a specific soldier who calls the Treasure Valley home.
Retired U.S. Army Capt. Carson Spear, an Army Field Artillery veteran who earned the Bronze Star and Purple Heart while serving as a platoon leader in Southern Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom II, stood on stage in preparation for receiving the F. Willard Robinson Military Service Award.
The award is “presented to an individual who serves or has served in our U.S. military and our community,” the God and Country Festival website states. “We recognize the tremendous sacrifices of those who have worked to protect our freedom. Though we would like to recognize all who have served, this award is designed to acknowledge the commitment and bravery of a local military servant.”
Spear shared a brief quote Wednesday night about receiving the award, which Gov. Brad Little presented to him.
“It’s such an incredible honor,” Spear said. “Thank you to all the veterans for their service to our great nation.”
Spear said he “really enjoyed the festival.”
“I thought the God and Country committee did a wonderful job putting together a very impactful and meaningful event,” he said. “My favorite part was seeing so many of our amazing veterans, law enforcement and first responders get recognized in such a patriotic way.”
FAITH
Nampa’s late Mayor Rick Hogaboam served the city and Canyon County in many ways during his life. His most recent post as mayor, while it only lasted two months and 13 days, still impacts the city and its residents.
On Wednesday, his family accepted the Faith, Family & Freedom Award, which has been given at the festival since 1999. The award is “presented to various community leaders who have a heart for faith, family and freedom.”
WORDS FROM IDAHO’S HEAD OF STATE
Little took in some of the festivities on Wednesday night. He spoke to the Idaho Press about celebrating 60 years of the God and Country Festival, a free event that has been hosted at Ford Idaho Center since 2000. It started off as a rally in 1966, and then was later held at Lakeview Park. Little sounded happy to be in attendance for the historic event Wednesday night.
“There’ll be a lot of people here tonight to see the fireworks,” Little said of the city’s only official fireworks show. “More importantly is the message, which is faith, family and freedom. We honored all the branches of the military, we just gave a military award, but it’s a huge part when you’re talking about faith, family and freedom, what this event’s about every year.”
Little spoke about Spear and noted the Spear’s impressive military career, including the honors he received throughout, and what Spear has done with the Warhawk Air Museum.
“It’s incredibly important that this community has that Warhawk (Air) Museum, where citizens can take their children in there and have veterans explain all of the different displays that are there,” Little said. “And, of course, their incredible aircraft fleet and all the flyovers they do, and all that they do for service, it was a very, very well-deserved award.”
Little also spoke about his fellow civil servant, Rick Hogaboam, and the late mayor’s sudden passing in March.
“It was such a tragedy,” Little said. “His memorial service, we had it here. You can just see how beloved Rick was in the community. ... But one thing about Rick, he had faith, family and freedom (which were) big parts of his life, so this is a great celebration to memorialize Mayor Hogaboam’s service, not only what he did for the community, but what he did within the faith community and everyone else.”
As for the turnout, Little spoke highly of Wednesday night’s iteration and the weather. According to the National Weather Service, it was 82 degrees with a 9 mph wind at the start of the festival.
“It’s good. We’ve been here before when it’s been like 20 degrees warmer, so it’s a lot nicer today than it has in previous summers,” Little said. “It’s pretty cool compared to what it can be on the Fourth of July.”
FLIPS AND TRICKS
In addition to showing respect to one’s faith, unity amongst the crowd, family fun, sharing an appreciation for the freedoms that their fellow Idahoans have on a clear, warm Wednesday in Nampa, there was also a bit of showmanship.
Before the festival’s headliner, Soul Patch, played its country rock set, and before the sun went down and the fireworks wowed the crowd, BMX athletes Ross Lanier, Joey Cordova and Melville Smith impressed the audience with high-flying tricks. Beaver Fleming was supposed to perform but was injured about six weeks before the festival.
Lanier spoke to the Idaho Press before they started on the ramp.
“This is a good turnout,” Lanier said. “I like this a lot.”
Smith, whose front flip won best trick amongst the three riders, also spoke about the festival.
“This is amazing it’s able to happen,” Smith said. “I just feel very blessed that this is a reality.”
MUSIC AND FIREWORKS
Before the city of Nampa’s only fireworks show of the season lit up the night’s sky, Skyview Fellowship, out of Emmett, brought people together with a tight sounding, soulful performance. Then Soul Patch, a country rock band from Boise, got people up and dancing. The band played a mix of covers across country, rock and folk music. The band’s closing cover was “Free” by the Zac Brown Band included a line emblematic of the night: "Free as we'll ever be."
The band sent a quote to the Idaho Press about its time in Nampa. It sounds like they’d like to come back.
“God and Country was a blast!” the band said in the message. “Great city, great crowd, all in celebration of our country’s 250th birthday! Thank you Nampa for a great time!”