APRIL SOUND UPBEAT
by JJB

Members of the April Sound Ladies Association got a jump start on the 4th of July celebration during a recent luncheon. They dressed in red, white and blue, and TERRY RODDY decorated the room with flags. She painted flower pots in the patriotic colors for centerpieces.

TOM MOORE sang a medley of patriotic songs, including "You're a Grand Old Flag," "America the Beautiful," "Battle Hymn of the Republic," "Eternal Father, Strong to Save (Navy Hymn)" and "God Bless the U.S.A."

From Broadway musicals he sang "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" and "The Impossible Dream."

LAUREN TEASDALE, 14, took the solo parts in an "American Folk Trilogy" and charmed her audience. Tiny SARAH SHIELDS played Bach's "Minuet in G" on the piano and received enthusiastic applause. They are both students of TOM MOORE.

President SUE HOLLADAY announced a committee had a special award to make, and BETTY WILLIS took her place at the piano to play the "Pomp and Circumstance" by Edward Elgar. Since JACKIE BARKER writes April Sound Upbeat for the Montgomery County News, she whipped out her pad to take notes.

One of the committee members tapped her on the shoulder and said, "JACKIE, the award is for you," and led her to the front of the room, where she was dressed in an academic gown. cowl and mortarboard. CHARLENE LONG announced JACKIE was receiving a special designation as "April Sound Laureate," and she was gifted with a bouquet of pink roses, a pair of glitzy earrings and a special framed certificate.

April Sounders celebrated the Fourth of July with a parade in the morning, and then moved to the pool for games and hot dogs. Many took their boats onto the lake in the evening to watch the fireworks from the dam, and others found good vantage places around Texas 105 to view the colorful display.