Photos and story by Monty Siekerman 
For the third year, the Lima Symphony Orchestra entertained hundreds on the sculpture mall at Ohio Northern.

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The Saturday evening patriotic pops concert, always held near the Fourth of July, began with the Ada VFW Post 9381 Color Guard presenting the colors. The crowd stood, putting their hands over their heart, as Kirsten Osbun-Manley sang, with gusto, the "Star Spangled Banner." 

Symphony Director Crafton Beck welcomed the crowd and noted that the weather prediction all week had called for rain that evening. "The mall should have been a swamp by now," he noted. But instead, white fluffy clouds passed overhead on a warm, windless night, perfect for a concert outdoors.

The free, two-hour program was filled with popular and patriotic songs. And, for OSU fans, there was "Hang on Sloopy," the OSU Marching Band's unofficial anthem.

Beck, who, between pieces, names the music played and tells about the composers. He remarked that even songs written more than a hundred years ago can remain timeless. The symphony played several examples.

Music can be flexible, as well, as proven on Saturday evening. A song by the folk rock duo Simon and Garfunkel fits nicely in a symphony repertoire when written for orchestra.

Music can be emotional, too. One cannot hear "God Bless America" without feeling pride in the United States of America, for example.

Young and old enjoyed the Independence Day concert where one could, beneath tall trees, wear shorts, bring a puppy, and spread a blanket to picnic while a symphony played. 

The VFW handed out hundreds of small flags. Members of the armed forces stood and were recognized when the song of their service was played.

After intermission, ONU President Dan DiBiasio welcomed the crowd, thanked the list of donors who made the program possible, and said the night would not have been possible without the efforts of Kirsten Osbun-Manley and Chris Burns-DiBiasio.

The evening ended with an encore and standing O...a perfect night of music for the hundreds who attended from Ada and surrounding towns and villages.