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Waco Texas celebrates the 200th birthday of the United States of America at 8:00 p.m. Baylor University Stadium Waco Texas July 3rd 1976 now let's join the celebration and coming in the right ramp The Suez Shrine Oriental Band, headquartered in Brownwood, Texas.

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1976 PSA State Champ. Director, Noble Carly Worley, President, Noble Wendell Morris. And now entering the right ramp, Karam Shrine Temple, Waco, Texas, Arab Precision Marching Patrol, Captain Noble, George Drediger, President Noble, Butler, King. The End

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It's good. Hey, let's go. And now coming in the ramp, the Hella Shrine Highlanders Pipes and Drums from Dallas. The only shrine Pipes and Drums in Texas.

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Pipe Major, Noble Bob Forbes. Drum Major, Noble Ron Shepard. Who's there? And following the Scottish Pipers, the Hella Shrine, Spirit of 76th Group from Dallas, Captain Noble Raymond E. Jones.

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Thank you. . - Hi, there. Thank you.

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- Regular introduction instead of A play F. - Introduction then F. Regular introduction then letter F, okay. Ladies and gentlemen, would you please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance to

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the flag. Please unite with me in Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

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Let us pray. Almighty God, our Heavenly Father and Supreme Architect of the universe, As we assemble here on this momentous hour in the history of our beloved nation, we bow before thee in gratitude and solemn acknowledgement

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that all we have and are are but gracious blessings from thy almighty hand. Thou hast given us a great and goodly heritage. Help us, we pray, to be worthy of our inheritance. And as we meet together here tonight and tomorrow and across this blessed and bounteous land,

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we beseech thee as did the psalmist of old. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable unto thee, O God, our rock and our redeemer. Amen. Please be seated.

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Ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure as chairman of the Waco Bicentennial Commission to introduce to you at this time for a word of welcome the Mayor of the City of Waco, the Honorable M.A. Catfish Smith. Thank you, Roger. Before I welcome you here, I want to thank Roger Condrey and his committee for the fine job that they have done in putting this program together.

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On behalf of the city of Waco, let's give them a hand. As you can see, there's many man hours, and it's impossible to mention them all, so I'll just give Roger the credit because he's the chairman. On behalf of the city of Waco, I wish to welcome each and every one of you in our city, and we hope this will be an enjoyable evening for all. We pause at this time to look back on 200 years in one of the greatest countries that the world has ever known.

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We owe great gratitude to the forefathers that gave us this great land, although we may not think that it is perfect, but yet there's not another one on the face of this earth as great as our country. We here at Waco is proud of Waco because it is in the heart of Texas, and we think we're

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a city with a heart. We welcome you here and want you to come back and visit with us. We hope yours and yours will have a safe trip home and many happy years, and let's leave this nation to our children and their children to follow us. Our forefathers have left it

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for us. We're glad to have you in our city. Thank you, Mayor Catfish. Ladies and gentlemen, this afternoon the great Masonic fraternity of the state of Texas had a tremendous occasion and meeting here in Waco for a joint installation officers we are honored to have with us this evening for the preliminary

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ceremonies of our great program tonight the Masons of Texas the head of which great organization is with me here and it's my extreme pleasure to introduce to you the Honorable Tom C Yantis Grandmaster of Texas Masons Tom Yantis Thank you, Roger Conger, Mayor Smith, ladies and gentlemen, and my friends.

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It is a great source of pride and pleasure that the some 230,000 Master Masons in the state of Texas are privileged to join with the Waco Bicentennial Commission in the celebration of our nation's birthday here this evening. As Masons, we love our country,

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and we revere the principles upon which it was founded. As this country was formed and created out of a wilderness with a strong faith in God, we believe that with a firm reliance upon those principles

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and a continued faith in our great creator, that this nation will celebrate another 200 years in the years to come. And we are pleased to be here and have a part in this wonderful celebration of our nation's birthday. We thank you for letting us participate with you.

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God bless you all. Thank you. Now playing for your entertainment, the Hella Shrine Concert Band from Dallas. Directed by noble David G. Pittman, the oldest shrine band in Texas, organized in 1913,

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holder of two national trophies and many state trophies, won the TSA Band Competition 12 years in a row from 1963 to 1975. Sky. ¶¶ ¶¶

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. The Sharon Temple Colonials of Tyler, Texas presents Birth of a Nation. Many events led to the signing of the Declaration of Independence 200 years ago on July the 4th in 1776 and the subsequent birth of these United States of America. The chains of tyranny in the form of taxes and restrictions on individual liberty imposed on the colonials by King George of England created an intolerable situation.

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All protests by the Colonials to King George were answered by more restrictions. Finally, the quartering of the British soldiers, finally the quartering of the British Redcoats in the homes of the Colonials in America to keep them loyal to the Crown of England sparked a quest for freedom among the Colonials that was not to be denied. The Colonials meeting secretly

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formed small groups such as the Sons of Liberty and Minutemen. These groups met the tyranny with demonstrations such as the Boston Tea Party and an armed encounter at Lexington and Concord. When alerted by the Patriots, Paul Revere and William Dawes, the Minutemen rallied to Lexington and Concord answering the cry for freedom. The now famous shot heard round the world was fired

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and united the divided 13 colonies into one nation. This one nation under God is represented by the Spirit of 76 unit marching before you tonight. As Hella Temple Band of Dallas plays, please join in singing God Bless America. ¶¶

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It is a sincere wish of the Sharon Colonials that the freedom our forefathers fought and died to achieve 200 years ago will always be the cornerstone of America and under God. Freedom will continue to spread throughout the entire world that all people may be free. Thank you.

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And next, the Suez Shrine Oriental Band, headquartered in Brownwood, 1976, TSA State Champs, Director, Noble Carl Worley, President Noble, Wendell Morris. Let's give them a hand .

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Ladies and gentlemen, we realize that it's a warm July evening, but thousands of more people are wanting in the stadium. We need you to grab your friend and move toward the center all across the West Stands. And now our next presentation, the Hella Shrine Highlanders Pipes and Drums from

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Dallas the only shrine pipes and drums in Texas pipe major noble Ross Forbes drum major noble Ron Shepherd Let's bring them on with a hand We really appreciate your moving toward the center so others can enter. We thank you.

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Please move a little closer so everyone can sit on the west side and see the presentation. Thank you. - - There it is.

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- Oh, I'm okay. . - I didn't mean it for me. - They are, Bob.

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You got the same thing in that one, I got enough? - Yeah. Let's give a hand to the Hella Shrine Highlanders, pipes and drums from Dallas, Texas.

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Okay. Nobody seated in the aisles. If we could ask your indulgence concerning sitting in the aisles, for the sake of safety, please do not sit in any of the aisles.

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There are remaining seats at both ends of the west grandstand. You'll find seats at both the north and south ends of the west grandstand with good visibility. Let's hear it once again for the

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Hello Shrine Highlanders, Pipes and Drums. And now let's welcome the Hella Shrine Spirit of 76 group from Dallas, Texas, Captain Noble Raymond E. Jones. Oh, shh.

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One. Yeah! And now from Waco, the Karam Shrine Tipple Arab Precision Marching Patrol, bring them Hold on with a hand.

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Captain Noble George Brenniger and President Noble Butler King. There are still numerous seats available at the north end of the West Grandstand.

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Please do not sit in the aisles. You can find a seat there. Thank you. - Third, fourth, fifth, third, fourth.

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- I'm going to read on the radio media. Read.