Montage with only 1 photo of Obama, several of Bush concerns some guests at America's Freedom Festival
PROVO — It's probably a good thing President Barack Obama didn't come to the annual Patriotic Service last Sunday night in Provo, a few attendees are saying.
He might have wondered if he really were commander in chief after all.
"(It would have been) very embarrassing for Utah County," said Alan Peters, a BYU student who attended the annual service conducted in the Marriott Center by America's Freedom Festival.
Peters' concern was raised by a video montage of Americana-type images, shown while the Osmonds 2nd Generation sang two patriotic songs.
There were familiar images of flags, soldiers, families, Peters said, as well as several pictures of former President George W. Bush, but only one picture of Obama.
"Whether or not you're an Obama supporter, he is the president," Peters said.
But the montage creator and group's lead singer, David Osmond, said there were pictures of both men, and he's disappointed that more people didn't focus on the lyrics.
"If it came across pro-Bush and anti-Obama, I don't see how that would be possible," he said. "It was definitely not intentional at all, no disrespect to our president in the least."
The first song, titled "Put Your Hand Over Your Heart," showed images of Bush with his hand over his heart, many of them following the 9/11 attacks, Osmond said.
The second song, "Morning Breaks on Arlington," was meant to honor fallen troops and included a picture of Vice President Joe Biden and Obama placing a wreath for a soldier, Osmond said.
Time constraints prevented Osmond from overhauling the first video montage, which he had used previously and before the election, but he was already updating the images when contacted by the Deseret News.
America's Freedom Festival at Provo organizers received some angry e-mails expressing concern over the program, said Paul Warner, executive director. Warner didn't preview the montage, but knowing the group, said he knew it was never intended as a presidential snub.
Peters isn't used to such politically charged Fourth of July celebrations. Growing up near Chicago, the summer holiday was more about the "Taste of Chicago" food festival, fireworks on the lake and spending time with family.
"Patriotism, honoring American heritage … (are) important things, but I think sometimes people confuse patriotism with conservative values or principles," he said.
Peters is a self-proclaimed moderate. He grew up as a Democrat, later volunteered with Bush's election campaign and now agrees with some, but not all, of Obama's decisions.
Recent comments
I give Obama a thousand times more respect than the hypocritical...
P in Mexifornia | July 7, 2009 at 3:20 p.m.
"Yeah, we should limit the photos of Obama- the sheeple of the US...
Anonymous | July 7, 2009 at 2:34 p.m.
You mean the same Obama whose political career began in the home of...
P in Mexifornia | July 7, 2009 at 2:08 p.m.
- Black Friday store spending up 2:13 p.m.
- Man dies in dirt bike crash 2:06 p.m.
- Gamecocks top No. 15 Clemson 1:51 p.m.
- A naturally 'green' Christmas 1:42 p.m.
- AP: Iverson retirement may be brief 1:26 p.m.
- Case made for strong Fed role 1:15 p.m.
- Vonn fails to qualify for 2nd run 1:00 p.m.
- 911 tapes of Woods' crash on Sun. 12:53 p.m.
- Zardari turns over nuclear authority 12:30 p.m.
- Landreth Seed Co. turns 225 12:18 p.m.
- Cave to be sealed with body inside
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins
- Vegas, Poinsettia bowls or bust
- Glover gives Utes last-second upset
- Cougars turn back Wildcats'
- BYU football: 5 keys to victory
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- Rivalry Week is highly profane
- Efforts to save a life praised
- BYU's old uniforms?
- BYU would like friendlier rivalry
271 - Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
214 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
134 - Boys basketball rankings
132 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
111 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
108 - Letters: Trump card for believers
98 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
88
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
Utah 28 BYU 22
I want to see him go to golden state or new orleans he could do some damage...
Yeah, it can get pretty bad here, especially during colder months. It really...
Here's the details of the season... Quality wins: Spurs 8-6 Spurs...
Utah will never beat BYU in football!
OK, I'll bite. How does losing to SWBU and Seattle show that Boylen is a...
Read: The Manhattan statement, a Christian(Othodox,Catholic,Protestant)...
I am really embarassed by our fans.
Pierce is a tv critic. He doesn't just write about Real. I appreciate the...
As the article stated one couple had no children and when your neighbors are...


