The fifth annual God and Country Music Festival is set to begin at 3 p.m. July 4 at the Abbey grounds.
The festival is sponsored and organized by Harvest Connections, a local nonprofit that equips churches and community members with evangelism resources, suicide prevention materials, and many other resources.
Ray and Kaye Linebaugh (the founders of Harvest Connections) have worked hard to bring the festival to the community. This year's theme is simple: get involved.
"We've been a city, a state, a nation of spectators... and there is so much that we need to get involved in with our veterans and our church -- rather than just attending," Ray said.
As a Vietnam and Marine veteran, Ray Linebaugh has a close and personal understanding of the trauma that many military members go through and hopes to bring PTSD awareness to the community through the festival. There will be booths and resources available to all who attend and, Linebaugh said, this year's festival has had more support and sponsorship than ever before.
Additionally, Dave Roever, a Vietnam Veteran, and Purple Heart recipient, will be at the event. A world-renowned international minister, Roever serves as an astounding example of what veterans can do even after being injured in the field. According to Linebaugh, Roever knew both Ronald Regan and Billy Graham and has traveled the world spreading the gospel and healing words.
"His testimony is unbelievable," Ray said simply. "We honor all veterans and all first responders and we highlight the effects of PTSD -- that's the heart of God and Country."
There will be a flag-folding ceremony, and Linebaugh also plans to have two World War II veterans
The event is free to the public and will feature music from Sons and Brothers, County Wide Band, and Sonshine Washtub Band throughout the evening. Food trucks will provide sustenance to hungry attendees and proceeds from donations will go toward the many outlets that Harvest Connections has in Fremont County.
Suicide prevention and veteran aid services will be available at the festival, and Linebaugh looks forward to having a healthy turnout for the 2023 season.
Though the event will be hosted under a large tent, Linebaughe encourages attendees to bring pop-up tents of their own for additional shade.
For this year's event, Linebaugh has partnered with Dolly Gonzales, Bobby, and Christina Siler, and others that make up the Cañon City Fireworks Committee to bring a show back to Skyline Drive.
Gonzales, the founder and chairperson of the committee, has worked alongside the Silers for the past 14 months to raise the funds necessary for the show.
"It's kind of hard to ask people for money," Gonzales said, laughing. "Just trying to establish something that wasn't happening with the promise that it would was kind of hard."
For many years, Cañon City pillar Hank Holloway consistently raised funds for fireworks during every Independence Day celebration but, since Holloway died in 2018, fireworks have been on a hiatus.
Enter Gonzales and her committee.
The committee worked alongside Harvest Connections to obtain funding for the fireworks and has numerous businesses, community members, and other committees to thank. Some of those individuals and organizations include, but are not limited to:
- Zimmerman's Auto Body Shop
- Cañon City Realtors Association
- Cañon City Blossom and Music Festival
- Family of Hank Holloway
The show will be provided by Zambelli Fireworks and, according to Gonzales, they have signed a five-year contract to provide fireworks to the citizens of Cañon City.
Gonzales has a personal love of fireworks and hopes that residents throughout town will turn out to enjoy the show, which is slated to begin at 9 p.m.
"I thought, 'Why can't we do something in Cañon?'" Gonzales said after attending the Wet n' Dry parade in Florence several years ago. "It seems like we needed to do something here."
Fireworks will be a fantastic way to top off, not only the Independence Day holiday but also the God and Country celebration.
If interested in being a sponsor for the God and Country Music Festival or have questions, call Linebaugh at 719-369-5692.
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