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.

Provo resident David Chiu said he enjoyed the program, but didn't even realize there was a picture of Obama in the montage, amid the three or four pictures of Bush.