Old Millstream Ringers to help celebrate US birthday

FINDLAY — The Old Millstream Ringers will be celebrating America's 250th birthday with a concert of patriotic music. "Let Freedom Ring" will be held at 3 p.m. on Mother's Day, May 10, at St. Paul's Church, 218 E. Sandusky St. The concert is free and open to the public. A freewill offering will be taken. "People I was talking to, they feel like these are going to be big, any of the celebrations that people set up for the 250th will be big. People will try to go," said Gail Malloy, who has served as the director of the English bell choir since 2018. Assistant director is Emily Thomas. "We're going to recognize the people who have been in the military with a song called 'A Patriot Salute.' They'll stand up when the song of that branch of the military is played," she explained. The songs honor the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Space Force. The narrator will be Kay Chester. Malloy said she also has a friend who collects flags and has all six of the branches. "So we're going to have the ushers bring the flags in when we play that song and put it in a stand in the front, and then the next branch will come in," she said. "So that song I'm real excited about." The final song is "The Stars and Stripes Forever." "We're going to have everyone sing 'God Bless America', and then we're going to end with 'The Stars and Stripes Forever," said Malloy. She said three of the Ringers will play the piccolo part on the high bells, while guest ringers will be doing the chimes as the trombone part. "So there's some really neat things that are going on," said Malloy. She also hopes that people will come dressed in patriotic clothing of red, white and blue colors. The first half of the program will include "Let Freedom Ring," Battle Hymn of the Republic," "Eternal Father, Strong to Save," "America — The Brave, The Free" and "God Bless the U.S.A." Emily Thomas will perform a handbell solo, accompanied by her mother, Nancy Thomas. Other selections featured are "Grand Old Yankee Doodle Extravaganza," "A Patriotic Salute," "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," "God Bless America" and "The Stars and Stripes Forever." Members of the Ringers include Erick Miller, Skylar Deerwester, Kevin Roth, Rob Griffin, Kathy Leemaster, Lee Below, Tracy Hiller, Diane Adler, Joy Gruetter, Jeanne McCaffrey, Emily Thomas, Nora Wolf and Nancy Thomas. Michael Malloy will be the percussionist. The nonprofit organization was founded in the summer of 2000 by Martha Avery — a retired music educator and veteran handbell director — to give local musicians an opportunity to grow, learn and promote the art of handbell ringing, The group consists of 13 ringers from Findlay and the surrounding communities and a number of substitutes. They perform on five octives of Schulmerich handbells and handchimes. Malloy is a retired general music teacher from McComb Local Schools. She originally played in St. Paul's handbell choir that was directed by Avery.