>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION'S LIVE COVERAGE OF AMERICA 250 IN IDAHO'S CAPITOL CELEBRATION.

I'M ALYSSA DAVLIN AND WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM IN FRONT OF THE CAPITOL.

WE'RE GETTING THE PARTY STARTED DOWN HERE.

LET'S KICK IT OFF.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> SO COMING UP, THIS HOUR, WE'VE GOT THE CONCERT LINEUP COMING UP, C CHAD MARVIN AND ELLIEMAE AND EARLY AFTERNOON, JEFF CROSBY AND AFTER RIVER AFROSONICS ANDTHEN JOSH RITTER,F EXCITING STUFF.

>> WE WILL GET INTO THAT BUT WE WILL SEE YOU HERE IN A SECOND.

>> WELCOME TO THE IDAHO AMERICA 250 CAPITOL CELEBRATION.

LIVE FROM CECIL D. ANDREWS MARK IN DOWNTOWN BOISE.

FUNDING FOR THE IDAHO AMERICA 250 CAPITOL CELEBRATION EVENT IS PROVIDED BY THE STATE OF IDAHO AND THE AMERICA 250 ADVISORY IN IDAHO.

ADDITIONAL COVERAGE IS PROVIDED BY THE IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION ENDOWMENT AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> WELCOME BACK.

LIVE COVERAGE, LOTS OF STUFF GOING ON ALL AROUND THE STATE.

BUT RIGHT NOW WE WANT TO BRING IT BACK WHERE WE ARE WRAPPING UP THE 4th OF JULY PARADE.

I'M JOINED BY MEMBERS OF SCOUTING AMERICA WHO JUST WALKED IN THE PARADE.

CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF?

>> HI, MY NAME IS GEORGE THOMAS.

I'M THE DISTRICT DIRECTOR FOR MOUNTAIN WEST COUNCIL.

>> AND BOYS.

>> I'M PIERCE.

>> I'M VICTOR.

>> AND GEORGE, OF WHAT WE SEE ABOUT AMERICA INVOLVEMENT IS GIVING BACK.

HOW DOES THAT TIE INTO THE CORE TENETS?

>> WE HAD OVER 128 PARTICIPANTS AND SCOUTS FROM CUBS WHICH ARE LITTLE TEENY TINY GUYS LIKE YOU KNOW, ALL THE WAY UP TO TROOP AND CREW MEMBERS.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, SERVICE IS REALLY CRITICAL FOR US.

WE PARTICIPATED IN OVER 4,000 ACTS OF SERVICE FOR THE STATE AND WE REGISTERED WITH THE JUST SERVED GROUP AND WE JUST -- WE HAD THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF HOURS.

SO IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO EVERYTHING WE COULD.

>> THANK YOU, BOYS, FOR ALL YOU DO.

HAPPY 4th OF JULY.

WE ARE JOINED BY THE LONG-TIME ANCHOR, DEE SARTON.

>> I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, THE THICK OF IT.

THE CROWD OUT THERE IS AMAZING.

I HEAR IT'S A RECORD.

IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE HEARING.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE.

>> DEE, WE JUST HEARD ABOUT SCOUTING AMERICA, AND HOW THEY HAVE DONE MORE THAN 4,000 ACTS OF KINDNESS ALONE, JUST FOR THE SCOUTS FOR SERVE 250.

THAT'S ONE OF THE INITIATIVES THAT HAS COME OUT OF THE AMERICA 250 CELEBRATIONS IS ASKING IDAHOANS TO DO 250,000 HOURS OF SERVICE.

THEY WERE HOPING TO DO THAT BY THE END OF THE YEAR AND ALREADY THEY SMASHED THAT RECORD.

>> I LOVE THAT!

>> ISN'T THAT INCREDIBLE?

THAT REALLY SPEAKS TO ME, TO THE HEART OF IDAHO AND THE HEART OF AMERICA 250.

>> WE HAVE ALL BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK A FEW TIMES HAVEN'T WE?

AND WE HAVE SEEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN, HOW YOU STEP UP.

YOU KNOW, YOU THROW OUT A CHALLENGE LIKE THAT, THAT SOUNDS KIND OF BIG, BUT WHEN IT'S IDAHOANS INVOLVED, THEY SMASH IT.

AND I LOVE THAT WE HAVE A STATE WHERE THAT IS STILL OUR M.O.

I'M SO GLAD THAT THAT'S THE WAY WE OPERATE.

>> YES.

DEE, AS YOU ARE UP THERE ON THE STAGE TODAY, WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT?

>> I LOVE CELEBRATING OUR COUNTRY.

I LOVE CELEBRATING OUR STATE.

I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT WE ARE JUST BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE HERE.

SO TO SEE THE -- JUST THE CROWD AND WE HAVE GOT A GREAT LINEUP.

WONDERFUL MUSICIANS, ALL KINDS OF WALKS OF LIFE REPRESENTED.

SO I THINK THAT'S PART OF IT.

I LOVE THE ENERGY THAT WE FEEL WHEN WE COME TOGETHER.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE IT WHEN IDAHOANS UNDER A CROWD, YOU KNOW IT.

>> CAN I TELL YOU ONE QUICK STORY?

I WAS WITH SOME PEOPLE WHO MOVED HERE FROM YOU NO HE WHERE.

THEY SAID BAR NONE, EVERYONE HAS TREATED THEM WITH RESPECT AND LOVE AND WELCOMING AND THEY'RE LIKE, WE HAVE FOUND THE BEST STATE ON THE PLANET!

AND I WAS SO ENCOURAGED BY THAT.

WE ARE A WELCOMING WONDERFUL STATE.

>> THAT'S WHAT I LOVE.

>> IT SHOWS THAT AMERICA BELONGS TO EVERYBODY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> AND THAT IS SUCH AN IDAHO WAY TO GREET NEWCOMERS.

>> YES.

>> ONE OF THE OTHER INITIATIVES I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT IS GIVING 4th.

THIS IS A NEW INITIATIVE THAT HAS COME OUT NATIONWIDE, ENCOURAGING AMERICANS TO DONATE TO A CHARITY OR CHARITY OF THEIR CHOICE, NOT JUST THIS YEAR, BUT EVERY SINGLE YEAR MOVING FORWARD.

WHAT A FANTASTIC WAY TO SHOW THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

>> WELL, WE ALL NEED THOSE REMINDERS DON'T WE?

WE NEED THEM BECAUSE THE NEEDS ARE GREAT THERE'S NO KIDDING THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO NEED OUR HELP, BUT WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO COME FROM THE GRASSROOTS AND TO GO CELEBRATED AS WE DO IT TOGETHER.

>> WELL, DEE, WE KNOW YOU HAVE SO MUCH TO DO.

WE WILL LET YOU GET BACK TO IT.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME.

>> I'M SO GLAD YOU ARE DOING THIS FOR ALL IDAHOANS SO EVERYBODY CAN WATCH.

GREAT JOB.

HAVE FUN.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GOOD LUCK UP THERE.

>> I NEED IT.

>> YOU GOT THIS.

>> YEAH, I THINK WE'RE IN GOOD HANDS.

>> YOU KNOW, AS DEE MENTIONED, THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON AROUND THIS STATE, AND IF YOU ARE STILL LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO AFTER THE JOSH RITTER SHOW WRAPS UP, THERE ARE LOTS OF EVENTS DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE.

UP IN NORTH IDAHO, THE LAKESIDE 4th FEST AND THE COEUR D'ALENE FIREWORKS SHOW.

IT KICKS OFF AT 6:10 P.M.

PACIFIC TIME AND 9:30 PACIFIC TIME FOR THE FIREWORKS AND IN LEWISSTON, THE COMMUNITY SPIRITS FIREWORKS SHOW AT 10 P.M.

PACIFIC TIME.

>> THEN AROUND TO THE EAST, FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN THE IDAHO FALLS AREA, OF COURSE THE MELALUCA FREEDOM FESTIVAL.

THAT'S HAPPENING AT 10:00 MOUNTAIN TIME.

THAT'S A BIG ONE AND FOR THOSE ATTENDING THAT ONE, I HEAR THAT MIGHT BE THE LAST TIME THEY DO THE MELALUCA FREEDOM FESTIVAL IN IDAHO FALLS AND IN THE SOUTHERN AREA FOR OUR FRIENDS IN TWIN FALLS, THE FIREWORKS AT THE COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN IDAHO IS KICKING OFF AROUND 10:00 TONIGHT.

THIS IS NOT JUST FOR FOLKS WHO ARE IN THE BOISE, THE TREASURE VALLEY AREA.

THIS IS REALLY A CELEBRATION OF IDAHO'S AMERICA 250 AROUND THE STATE.

WE THANK EVERYONE WHO ARE TUNING IN AND BEING VERY SUPPORTIVE, NOT JUST FOR US, BUT FOR THE IDAHO AMERICA 250 INITIATIVES.

>> AND THAT'S JUST A SMALL SASAMPLING OF WHAT IS GOING ON TONIGHT.

TO FIND MORE EVENTS YOU CAN GO TO AMERICA250-POINT IDAHO.GOV/EVENTS.

I SAW EVENTS IN COUNCIL, IN POST FALLS AND NOT THAT I'M UNHAPPY TO BE HERE BUT I'M JEALOUS TO BE MISSING SOME OF THOSE GREAT EVENTS GOING ON.

>> THE SPIRIT IS STRONG.

THE SPIRIT IS STRONG AROUND THE STATE.

>> IT REALLY IS.

PLEASE CHECK IT OUT.

AND JOINING US NOW IS SUSAN BUCKSTON DIRECTOR OF THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION.

THERE'S SO MANY THINGS GOING ON AT PARKS AND REC THIS YEAR.

TELL US WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN UP TO.

>> THIS IS AN EXCITING YEAR FOR IDAHO PARKS ACROSS STATE AND FIRST OF ALL, ACROSS STATE, WE'RE HAVING FREE ENTRY TO ALL THE STATE PARKS IN THE STATE.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WE HAVE 30 PARKS FROM NORTH IDAHO TO SOUTH IDAHO TO EAST IDAHO EVERYWHERE YOU THINK YOU CAN GO, TO THE MOUNTAINS AND THE RIVERS AND THE LAKES AND YOU WILL HAVE FUN.

PLEASE GO SEE OUR STAFF OUT THERE.

THEY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING EVERYBODY OUT IN THE PARKS.

WE HAVE EVENTS AT EVERY PARK ACROSS THE STATE, AGAIN, ON THE AMERICA 250 WEBSITE.

WE LISTED ALL OF THOSE.

AROUND HERE, EVEN IF IT'S HOT HERE, YOU STILL HAVE BRUNO DUNES TONIGHT AND LOOK AT THE STARS AND GO OUT TO THE OBSERVE STORY FOR SOMETHING AROUND THIS AREA, AND DO THINGS AT ISLAND PARK AND THERE'S A BIG CELEBRATION ON THE #.

-- THE 8th.WE ARE DOING THINGSE 4th OF JULY.

LIKE THE AMERICAS FREEDOM TRUCK.

WE HAD HAD HEADQUARTERS.

WE ARE DOING A LOT OF THINGS WITH AMERICA 250.

AMERICA'S POT LUCK STARTS TOMORROW AND THE FICTIONAL DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE READING ON JULY 8th AT 3 P.M.

AND EAR ENCOURAGING EVERYONE -- AND WE'RE ENCOURAGING FOR MOVE 250.

WE WANT YOU TO BIKE, HEIDT, PADDLE 250, ALL OF IDAHO'S STATE PARKS AND GET IN 250 MILES OF MOVEMENT.

>> THAT IS FANTASTIC.

AND I'M SO GLAD YOU MENTIONED MOVE 250, BECAUSE THEY REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO MOVE AND IT'S NOT IN A -- IN A STRUCTURED OR PRESCRIPTIVE WAY.

YOU CAN WALK.

YOU CAN HIKE.

YOU CAN BIKE.

YOU CAN CANOE.

THERE'S SO MANY WAYS TO GET OUTSIDE AND ENJOY THE IDAHO OUTDOORS.

>> YEAH, WE'RE VERY BLESSED TO HAVE -- TO BE IN IDAHO.

WE HAVE THE MOST AMAZING OUTDOOR RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES OF ANY STATE IN THE UNION.

SO PLEASE GET OUTDOORS.

GO VISIT YOUR PARKS, WHETHER IT'S A STATE PARK, WHETHER IT'S A LOCAL PARK, LIKE WE ARE SITTING HERE IN BOISE OR COUNTY PARK, CERTAINLY ALL THE FORESTS AND THE BU BUREAU OF LAD MANAGEMENT LANDS WE ARE JUST BLESSED FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION IN IDAHO.

>> WELL, SUSAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO WITH THE REST OF YOUR 4 4th WEEKEND?

>> WELL, THE 4th WEEKEND BEING WE WILL PROBABLY DO A LITTLE BIT OF BIRDWATCHING, HANGING ROUND DOWN HERE IN BOISE AND GO UP TO LUCKY PEAK AND HOW THAT IS DOING.

WE HAVE -- A WHOLE NEW LAUNCH FOR A.D.A.

LAUNCH AT DISCOVERY PARK.

IF YOU HAVE ANYBODY -- ANYBODY ON WHEELCHAIRS CAN GET OUT ON THEIR PADDLEBOARD AND GET OUT THERE AND PADDLE.

>> DIRECTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> WELL, AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER ON IN THE SHOW, THAT LATER THIS AFTERNOON, JOSH RITTER IS GOING TO BE CLOSI CLOSINGOUT THE SHOW.

MELISSA HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN WITH JOSH RITTER AND GET A PREVIEW OF WHAT IS HAPPENING LATER ON THIS AFTERNOON.

>> JOSH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS BROADCASTING YOUR SET AND THE OTHERS LIVE AND WE'RE EXPECTING THOUSANDS TO ATTEND IN PERSON.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO HEAR FROM YOU?

>> WHAT I'M -- WHAT I'M HOPING TO BRING TO MY SHOW IS JOY, YOU KNOW?

AND TO BRING -- YOU KNOW, I WANT -- I WANTED TO PLAY THE SHOW.

THIS REALLY APPEALED TO ME BECAUSE I GET TO BE IN MY HOME STATE AND WITH THE HONOR OF GETTING TO PLAY THE PEOPLE I GREW UP WITH, YOU KNOW?

AND THAT IS SO EXCITING AND IT'S SUCH AN HONOR AND I HOPE TO BRING EVERY KIND OF OUNCE OF LOVE THAT I HAVE TO OFFER BACK.

>> AND THIS IS, OF COURSE, AMERICA 250.

WHAT ROLE DO YOU THINK MUSIC PLAYS IN THE BROADER AMERICAN STORY?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO SAY IN EVERY -- THERE ARE SO FEW SITUATIONS THAT I CAN THINK OF WHERE PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER AND SINGING OR MAKING MUSIC, PARTICIPATING IN MUSIC, HASN'T BEEN A GOOD THING.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN -- AND IT'S -- AND THAT IS TRUE IN OUR COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, IN SO MANY WAYS.

I THINK OF SO MANY GREAT MOMENTS WHERE -- WHERE WE GATHER TOGETHER AND PARTOOK IN A PIECE OF MUSIC OR A PIECE OF MUSIC DEFINED OUR HISTORY, YOU KNOW.

IT'S SO WOVEN INTO OUR TAPESTRY THAT IT'S OFTEN EASY TO FORGET THAT IT HAS A SOUNDTRACK OF MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF VOICES WITH MILLIONS -- MILLIONS OF DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW AND SO MANY DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AND -- AND PLACES OF ORIGIN.

IT'S -- THE STORY OF MUSIC IN AMERICA IS THE STORY OF AMERICA.

YOU KNOW?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU WERE UP IN MOSCOW, HOW DID YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CELEBRATE THE 4th OF JULY WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP?

>> OH, I -- LIKE, I REMEMBER THAT WE WERE LUCKY BECAUSE MOSCOW, IDAHO, HAD A FIREWORKS SHOW AND THEN PULLMAN, WASHINGTON, RIGHT ACROSS THE BORDER HAD A FIREWORKS SHOW.

SO WE WOULD SEE BOTH WHEN I WAS A KID.

IT WAS A FEAST.

IT WAS A FEAST OF THAT WEIRD SULFUR SMOKE AND COTTON CANDY AND THEN GETTING STUCK -- I REMEMBER SOME OF THE BEST NIGHTS OF -- OF FALLING ASLEEP IN THE BACK OF MY PARENT'S CAR WOULD BE WAITING IN TRAFFIC TO -- TO -- ON A COUNTRY ROAD WHERE WE WERE WATCHING FIREWORKS, YOU KNOW, AND ALL TRYING TO DRIVE AWAY AT HOME AT ONCE IN THE DARK OF NIGHT.

IT'S -- IT WAS A -- IT'S WE WENT TO EVERY ONE.

EVERY FIREWORKS SHOW.

>> THAT'S A MEMORY, THAT I THINK SO MANY OF US SHARE TOO IN SO MANY WAYS FALLING ASLEEP ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE FIREWORKS SHOW WITH OUR PARENTS.

WHAT AN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> OTHER THAN THIS LIVE SHOW, WHAT ELSE ARE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY PLANNING FOR THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND?

>> WELL, WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING PART AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO BE ANOTHER GREAT AMERICA TRADITION OF A ROAD TRIP.

WE WILL BE STARTING OUT IN SEATTLE AND GOING DOWN THROUGH THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA AND THEN DOWN ACROSS OREGON INTO BOISE THAT WAY, AND IT'S GONNA BE SO BEAUTIFUL.

SO WE'RE GONNA -- WE'RE GONNA ENJOY THE WEEKEND AND I'M GONNA PROBABLY TAKE THEM OUT TO BREAKFAST.

WE WILL GO DOWN THE RIVER, IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT TIME.

VERY EXCITED.

>> I'M BIASED.

THERE'S NO PRETTIER PART OF THE COUNTRY.

I LOVE THAT ROAD TRIP YOU JUST DESCRIBED SO MUCH.

IT'S SO GOOD.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE SO FUN.

>> ONE LAST QUESTION, CAN YOU GIVE US A PREVIEW OF WHAT WE MIGHT HEAR FROM YOUR SET?

>> YEAH!

YOU KNOW, I LOVE TO PLAY FROM ALL OVER MY -- MY WORK AND -- BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY -- YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO BE PLAYING SOLO, WHICH IS HOW I STARTED AND HOW I WANTED TO DO THIS, BECAUSE I GREW UP PLAYING THE SHOWS IN IDAHO THAT WERE -- YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER RENTING THE OLD TOWN HALL IN MOSCOW, YOU KNOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME.

AND I WILL BRING A WHOLE BUNCH OF SONGS THAT PEOPLE KNOW AND I'M TRYING TO -- WHAT I WANT IS FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO THE SHOW AND LEAVE A LITTLE LIGHTER IN THEIR HEARTS, YOU KNOW.

SO I'M GONNA BE CHOOSING MUSIC THAT I FEEL LIKE CAN LEND TO THIS MOMENT AND MAYBE BRING A LITTLE BIT OF IN THE MIDST OF SOME FRAUGHT TIMES.

>> I CAN TELL YOU A LOT OF PEOPLE I SPOKE TO ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT YOUR HOMECOMING.

WE ARE GETTING READY TO GET DOWN AND WE WILL SEE YOU THEN.

>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR HAVING ME.

THANKS A LOT.

I CAN'T WAIT.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ >> THE 25th ARMY BAND, THIS IS THE ONLY MILITARY BAND AND HAS MORE THAN 30 MEMBERS.

A FEW OF THEM ARE PLAYING RIGHT NOW.

LET'S LISTEN IN.

♪ >> I SHOULD MENTION, THEY ARE STILL GOING.

YOU MAY HAVE MISSED THE LIBERTY BILL, BUT -- LIBERTY BELL.

WE WILL COME UP AT THE NOON HOUR.

HANG IN THERE.

WE ARE JOINED BY A VERY SPECIAL GUEST, MRS.

HIDE HIDE, COURTNEY LEHOSIT.

>> I'M A SIXTH GENERATION IDAHOAN.

I WAS CROWNED MRS.

IDAHO AMERICA IN FEBRUARY.

MY ROLE IS TO REPRESENT MARRIED WOMEN ACROSS THE GEM STATE, WORKING MOTHERS, SISTERS, DAUGHTERS YOUR NEIGHBORS.

I'M INVOLVED WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS FAMILIES IMPACTED BY CANCER.

I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY.

>> WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO?

>> IDAHO'S BIRTHDAY WAS YESTERDAY.

AMERICA'S BIRTHDAY IS TODAY.

IT'S A GREAT FAMILY DAY, A BEAUTUAL WEATHER.

I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> AS PEOPLE WATCH US FROM ALL OVER THE STATE, TELL US WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN HERE AT THE FESTIVITIES IN THE ELECTRICESSURE VALLEY.

>> IT'S VERY FAMILY ORIENTED.

THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT.

THERE'S SO MANY KIDS, MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILIES THAT ARE OUT TODAY, AGAIN CELEBRATING THAT PATRIOTISM THAT I LOVE.

>> ONE OF YOUR KIDS IS HERE.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME?

>> CONNOR.

>> CONNOR.

>> HOW OLD ARE YOU?

>> NINE.

>> AND WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED FOR?

>> CELEBRATING WITH MY FAMILY.

>> THAT IS SO SWEET.

>> AND HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> I'M PENELOPE.

>> WHAT IS YOUR TITLE?

>> MY TITLE IS JUNIOR MISS CHERRY FESTIVAL.

>> AND HOW WILL YOU SPEND THE REST OF YOUR DAY?

>> I WILL PROBABLY GO TO THE POOL AND RELAX WITH MY FRIENDS.

>> I THINK THAT'S THE BEST IDEA I HAVE HEARD.

>> IT'S SUPPOSED TO GET INTO THE MID-90s TODAY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND HAPPY 4th OF JULY.

>> THANK YOU.

HAPPY 4th.

>> THERE'S SO MANY THINGS GOING ON.

AS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, AND, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY IS AMERICA 250 ISN'T JUST A ONE-DAY EVENT.

IT'S NOT JUST A ONE-DAY PARTY ON JULY 4th.

IT'S A YEAR-LONG CELEBRATION AND WE AT IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION HAVE BEEN COVERING THESE EVENTS NOT JUST IN BOISE BUT HITTING EVERY SINGLE CORNER OF THE STATE.

STARTING IN JANUARY.

>> YEAH.

>> FOR AN HOUR-LONG SPECIAL THAT IS SCHEDULED TO AIR IN DECEMBER.

AND THOSE EVENTS ARE GONNA KEEP GOING, AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE.

IF YOU WANT TO FIND EVENTS.

IF YOU WANT TO ADD YOUR OWN COMMUNITY EVENTS GO TO AMERICAAMERICA250-POINT IDAHO.G.

>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE REALLY EXCITED.

YOU SEE THE CROWD GATHERING BEHIND US.

YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A REGULAR 4th OF JULY.

THEY ARE EXCITED.

THEY ARE FEELING THE ENERGY OF THE AMERICA 250 PROJECT.

NOT JUST HERE IN THE TREASURE VALLEY, AGAIN, BUT TO EVERYONE AROUND THE STATE AND THIS HAVE BEEN SOME WONDERFUL -- YOU HAVE BEEN TO A RODEO.

>> I WASN'T TO THE BLACKFOOT RANCH RODEO AND INDIAN RELAY RACES AND THERE WAS COWGIRL CONGRESS WHERE THERE WERE ARTISANS FROM AROUND THE STATE WHO SHARED THEIR SKILLS.

IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST FUN SHOOTS I HAVE BEEN ON IN YEARS.

WE'RE SO EXCITED TO PUT THAT TOGETHER FOR THE DECEMBER SHOW.

YOU WENT TO BLACKFOOT AS WELL IN JANUARY.

>> IN JANUARY.

IT WAS A COLD DAY, BUT THEY KNOW HOW TO REALLY PULL OUT THE RED CARPET FOR SOME OF THE EVENTS.

THEY GOT TO READ THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND THE -- YOU KNOW, AND THEN AFTERWARDS.

SO THEY DID IT IN THE GYMNASIUM.

>> RIGHT.

>> AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL THERE IN BLACKFOOT.

AND THEN THEY MOVED ACROSS THE STREET WHERE THEY HAD A BIG BONFIRE AND HOT COCOA.

JUST REALLY FANTASTIC TO SEE PEOPLE WHO EVEN ON A VERY, VERY COLD EASTERN IDAHO DAY, CAME OUT TO CELEBRATE IDAHO AND AMERICA 250.

>> YEAH, ONE OF THE EVENTS WE COVERED IN APRIL, WE WENT TO FRUITLAND FOR THE MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL PAUL REVERE 5K.

I THINK WE HAVE A SNEAK PEEK OF THAT.

>> HI, I'M KERRY PETERSON, I'M THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF THE FRUITLAND.

>> WE WILL HAVE THE SERIOUS RUNNERS, I SEE YOU OUT THERE THAT ARE STRETCHING AND GETTING WARM.

>> TODAY IS APRIL 18th.

WE PICKED THIS DAY BECAUSE IT'S THE SAME DAY AS PAUL REVERE'S MIDNIGHT RIDE AND WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE PERFECT FOR THE 250 CELEBRATION HERE IN THE CITY OF FRUITLAND.

THE MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL, IT'S OUR VERY FIRST YEAR THAT WE HAVE DONE THIS.

IT'S FOR HIGH SCHOOL KIDS FROM NINTH THROUGH 12th GRADE AND EVERY MONTH WE GIVE THEM SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES.

BASICALLY THE REASON I STARTED IT IS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE MAYOR FOREVER, AND I REALLY WANT IT TRAIN MY REPLACEMENT.

[ CHEERS ] >> THEY BASICALLY PLANNED THIS ENTIRE EVENT.

THIS WAS THEIR CAPSTONE PROJECT TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> AWESOME.

>> BYE, GUYS.

>> EVERY SINGLE VOLUNTEER THAT WE SAW IN AN ORANGE VEST, THAT WAS ONE OF MY YOUTH COUNCIL.

WE STARTED YESTERDAY, PUTTING TOGETHER OVER 200 RACE PACKETS.

THEY WERE HERE SETTING UP THE TABLES AND MAKING SURE THE SOUND SYSTEM WAS READY TO GO.

WE HAD THEM AT EVERY INTERSECTION SO OUR RACERS DIDN'T GET LOST, SOME WERE IN CHARGE OF THE WATER STATIONS AND SOME WERE IN CHARGE OF THE START AND FINISH LINE AND SOME WERE IN CHARGE OF PUTTING THE MILE MARKERS OUT.

NOT ONLY DID WE HAVE THE RACE, BUT WE HAVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUTTING ON A COMMUNITY FREE BREAKFAST.

SO THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

AND TYING INTO THE PAUL REVERE RUN, THAT'S WHAT HE DID.

HE WENT FROM COMMUNITY TO COMMUNITY GETTING VOLUNTEERS, PUTTING THE WAR CRY OUT, THE BRITISH WERE COMING.

WHEN SOMEONE NEEDS HELP, WE ALL GET TOGETHER AND THAT'S WHY THIS COMMUNITY IS SO AMAZING, BECAUSE THEY HELP EACH OTHER AND THEY LOVE EACH OTHER.

>> THESE KIDS ARE INCREDIBLE.

THEY REALLY ARE INCREDIBLE.

THEY WANT SERVICE AND THEY WANT TO BE INVOLVED AND THIS GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT.

>> WOO HOO!

>> OUR HISTORY OF AMERICA, IT HAS TAKEN SOME INCREDIBLE LEADERS TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE NOW, AND THAT'S WHY WE LOVE LIVING IN THIS GREAT COUNTRY AND THIS GREAT STATE.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE THE LEADERS THAT CAN CONTINUE THE LEGACY THAT HAS BEEN BUILT AND BY DOING THIS MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL, WE CAN DO THAT.

THOSE LEADERS CAN CONTINUE OUR LEGACY FORWARD.

>> THOSE HIGH SCHOOLERS PUT SO MUCH WORK INTO THAT EVENT AND, AGAIN, THAT WAS JUST ONE DAY OF THIS YEAR-LONG CELEBRATION BUT TODAY WE'RE FOCUSED ON CELEBRATING THE 4th OF JULY.

WE'RE HERE AT CECIL ANDRUS PARK HERE IN BOISE.

WE HAVE A GREAT SHOW IN STORE FOR YOU.

>> WE WILL BE CARRYING IT LIVE.

>> HERE'S WHAT TO EFFECT.

WE WILL START OFF THIS AFTERNOON WITH CHAD MARVIN AND ELLIEMAE.

AND THEN WE'LL GO TO JEFF CROSBY.

AND THEN THIS AFTERNOON, AFROSONICS AT 1:30, AND THEN THE GUY THAT WE JUST HEARD HIS INTERVIEW WITH MELISSA, WE'LL BE CLOSING OUT THE SHOW WITH JOSH RITTER.

WE HAVE A FUN AND EXCITING FIELD, 4th OF JULY DOWN HERE AT THE CECIL ANDRUS PARK.

>> THE ARMY 25th BAND IS SILL PLAYING.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND LISTEN IN SOME MORE.

♪ ♪ >> AND THAT IS THE U.S.

ARMY BAND HERE IN CECIL ANDRUS PARK.

IT'S BEEN A FUN DAY.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE PARADE, WE WANT TO THANK OUR PARTNERS AT CBS 2 NEWS.

WE ARE BROADCASTING THIS AFTERNOON AS WE HAVE THE FULL LINEUP THERE ON THE MAIN STAGE FOR THE ONGOING IDAHO AMERICA 250 CELEBRATION.

MELISSA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR THIS 4th OF JULY.

>> OTHER THAN HERE AT CECIL ANDRUS PARK.

WE'RE PLANNING TO GO HOME AND HAVE A BARBECUE WITH OUR NEIGHBORS.

WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH GREAT PEOPLE THERE.

I'M PLANNING TO EAT SO MANY RIBS, FRANKLY.

>> OH.

>> HOW ABOUT YOU.

>> I WAS ABOUT TO DO SIMILAR, BUT WITHOUT THE RIBS.

SO I'M WONDERING RIGHT NOW WHETHER I JUST WANT TO GO AND -- GO VISIT YOU AND YOUR 4th OF JULY CELEBRATIONS.

>> COME ON OVER.

WE'LL MAKE SURE.

SO ONE OF THE -- THIS EVENT HAS TAKEN SO MUCH PREPARATION, SO MUCH BEHIND-THE-SCENES WORK, NOT JUST THE CONCERT BUT THE PARADE ITSELF.

AND JOINING US IS ONE OF THE PARADE ORGANIZERS, TODD CHRISTIANSEN.

>> NICE TO BE HERE.

WELCOME, EVERYBODY FROM ACROSS THE STATE OF IDAHO HERE TO BOISE AND SEEING THE GREAT AMERICAN 250 PARADE HERE IN BOSEY.

>> FOR THOSE WHO MISSED THE PARADE, WHAT WERE THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOU?

>> I THINK THE HIGHLIGHTS I'M LOOKING AT THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THEIR GROUP OR COALITION IS SUPPORTING IDAHO AGRICULTURE.

AND WE HAVE HBC, MICRON, SIMPLOT, AND GREAT GROUP OF BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS FROM ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE HERE IN BOISE.

>> DOES THIS FEEL LIKE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PARADE THAN PREVIOUS YEARS BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANCE?

>> OH, CERTAINLY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

NOT ONLY IS IT SIGNIFICANT 250-YEAR MARK, BUT WE'RE ALSO ENJOYING A LONGER PARADE THIS YEAR.

I KNOW THAT WE ARE LOOKING HERE -- AND I'M LOOKING AT SOME OF THE PRODUCTION FOLKS THEY'RE GOING, OH, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THIS AMAZING THING IN THE AMERICA AT 12:00.

WE'RE JUST WRAPPING UP WITH THE PARADE.

WE STILL HAVE A FEW FLOATS COMING THROUGH.

YES, IT'S AMAZING TO SEE THAT WE ARE CELEBRATING 250 YEARS AND THERE'S OVER 35, 40,000 PEOPLE HERE IN DOWNTOWN BOISE ENJOYING WHAT'S HAPPENING AS WE CELEBRATE ACROSS THE STATE OF IDAHO.

>> DOES THAT SET A RECORD?

>> DEFINITELY SETS A RECORD.

>> THIS IS A FANTASTIC EVENT.

I'M NOT SURPRISED.

SO MUCH WORK HAS GONE ON BEHIND THE SCENES.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THIS HAPPEN TODAY?

>> I WILL FORGET A LOT OF NAMES.

SO BEAR WITH ME ON THIS ONE.

I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS AAPPRECIATION TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

IT'S CALLED WE THE PEOPLE 4th OF JULY CELEBRATION COMMITTEE.

AMANDA FURMAN FROM PETERSON CHEVROLET AND RYAN AND JACOB FROM CBS 2 WHO ARE BROADCASTING THIS WITH YOU FROM ACROSS THE STATE OF IDAHO.

WE HAVE ISAAC BUILDON FROM DEA, MYSELF AND THEN CUMULUS AND KATEON, AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND EVERYBODY.

>> I WAS GONNA ASK, IS THERE ONE PARTICULAR FLOAT THAT REALLY HAS A LOT OF MEANING THAT RESONATES WITH YOU?

>> TO ME, THAT'S A -- THAT'S A TERRIBLE QUESTION.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I'M KNOWN FOR THAT.

>> YEAH, THAT'S A VERY -- NOT TERRIBLE QUESTION, MAYBE I SHOULDN'T PUT IT THAT WAY.

THAT'S A DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY WONDERFUL FLOATS FROM OUR SHOW FLOATS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE COME OUT TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE.

IF I WERE TO ANSWER THAT ONE, I WOULD SAY MAYBE THIS IS VERY POLITICAL IN NATURE, BUT ALL OF THEM, FOR THOSE WHO CAME OUT TO CELEBRATE, THOSE WHO PUT IN TIME, AND THEN ALSO BEING ABLE TO COME UP HERE -- OR COME TO DOWNTOWN BOISE EARLY THIS MORNING AND BE PART OF THE PARADE.

SO AWESOME.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT 15 SECONDS LEFT.

CAN YOU TELL ME, NOW THAT THIS HAS WRAPPED UP, DO YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO RELAX TODAY?

>> NOT TODAY, WE WILL PROBABLY GET TO SOME RELAXATION PROBABLY BY JUNE 12th, SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE.

WE APPRECIATE CBS 2, AS YOU HAVE MENTIONED, AS WELL AS HERE IDAHO PUBLIC TV.

IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE OUR STATE COME TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE AMERICA 250.

>> TODD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> SO WE ARE ABOUT READY TO FINDLY GET STARTED FOR TODAY'S SHOW.

DEE SARTON, THE EMCEE FOR TODAY'S EVENT IS ABOUT TO TAKE THE STAGE.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND LISTEN IN.

>> THAT WAS AWESOME!

BULLETS AND BRASS WITH THE IDAHO ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, OH, MY GOODNESS.

THAT WAS A GREAT, GREAT START TO THE MUSIC THAT YOU'RE GONNA HEAR TODAY.

WE HAVE SO MUCH AHEAD.

IT'S GONNA BE AMAZING.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS DAY IS UP WITH OF THOSE DAYS WHERE WE CAN SEE OUR NEIGHBORS ALL AROUND, SOME THAT WE HAVE NEVER MET BEFORE, BUT WE ALL HAVE SO MUCH IN COMMON, CELEBRATING OUR 25 250th BIRTHDAY AND CELEBRATING IDAHO.

WHAT A GREAT TIME.

I'M SO GLAD YOU ARE ALL HERE.

JUST A QUICK REMINDER, WE WANT TO THANK THE STATE OF IDAHO AND WE ALSO WANT TO THANK THE AMERICA 250 AND IDAHO ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE.

LET'S GIVE THEM A HAND BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT THEM AND THEY HAVE ALSO THOUGHT ENOUGH TO PROVIDE FREE WATER FOR YOU OVER HERE.

SO FREE WATER.

STAY HYDRATED.

IT'S A WARM ONE OUT THERE!

LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO SOMEBODY WHO IS REALLY VERY, VERY INTEGRAL WILL TO WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY AND THAT'S OUR SECRETARY OF STATE PHIL McGRANE.

YOU KNOW, SECRETARY McGRANE, THIS MUST BE A SPECIAL DAY FOR YOU.

YOU HAVE BEEN PLANNING THIS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

WELCOME, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> THANK YOU, DEE.

AND IT REALLY IS A PRIVILEGE.

I HAVE TO START BY JUST SAYING GOD BLESS AMERICA.

[ CHEERS ] AND WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, TO THE CAPITOL.

ONE OF THE THINGS AS DEE MENTIONED, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR YEARS PLANNING TO MAKE SURE IDAHO GETS TO PARTICIPATE ON THE NATIONAL STAGE IN CELEBRATING 250 YEARS, IT'S INCREDIBLE.

[ CHEERS ] AS WE GATHER TODAY, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY GONNA CELEBRATE WITH THE CONCERT.

THE PARADE IS STILL GOING.

WE HAVE THE PANCAKE FEED.

THERE WILL BE FIREWORKS TONIGHT BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, IN ADDITION TO CELEBRATING, TO TAKE A MOMENT TO JUST REFLECT ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS MOMENT.

250 YEARS AGO, WHERE 56 PEOPLE SIGNED THE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION OF THE UNITED STATES.

[ APPLAUSE ] IT WAS IN THAT SIGNING AND IN THAT MOMENT, THAT WE WERE UNITED.

AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE MAJOR LESSONS FOR THIS YEAR, IS TODAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY AS A COUNTRY AND AS IDAHOANS TO COME TOGETHER, TO BE ONE PEOPLE, TO STAND FOR THE VALUES THAT BROUGHT US TOGETHER.

WHEN THE FOUNDING FATHERS WERE DRAFTING THE DECLARATION, THEY WEREN'T THINKING ABOUT PARADES.

THEY WEREN'T THINKING ABOUT CONCERTS.

THEY WEREN'T THINKING ABOUT FIRE WORK SHOWS.

THEY WERE THINKING ABOUT LIFE, LIBERTYILIBERTY AND THE PURSUITF HAPPINESS.

I THINK IF THEY WERE HERE WITH US TODAY, THEY WOULD BE PROUD.

I HOPE YOU GUYS GET A CHANCE TO ENJOY ALL THE CELEBRATIONS TODAY, BEYOND THE PARADE.

WE WILL TIP FOR THE NEXT THREE HOURS.

-- WE WILL CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT THREE HOURS.

WE HAVE GREAT PERFORMERS, THE LEGISLATURE, THE GOVERNOR AND THE ADVISOY COUNCIL HAS BROUGHT IDAHOANS TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE NOT JUST HERE AT THE CAPITOL BUT ALL THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

WE HAVE 97 DIFFERENT EVENTS HAPPENING ACROSS THE STATE OF IDAHO IN CELEBRATION OF AMERICA 250 AND I'M GLAD TO BE HERE JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU, SECRETARY McGRANE.

YOU KNOW, SECRETARY McGRANE IS IN CHARGE OF ONE OF OUR MOST PRECIOUS, PRECIOUS RIGHTS AND THAT'S THE RIGHT TO VOTE, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE FAIR AND THAT THEY'RE -- AND ALSO TO ENCOURAGE US ALL TO VOTE, RIGHT?

>> YES.

YES.

THIS IS ALL ABOUT OUR LIBERTY AND OUR OPPORTUNITY FOR SELF-GOVERNANCE AND IT STARTS AT THE VOTING BOOTH.

>> IT DOES.

AND THANK YOU FOR SAFEGUARDING THAT FOR US, AND ALL YOU DO.

SECRETARY OF STATE PHIL McGRANE, EVERYONE.

ALL RIGHT.

SO NOW -- YOU KNOW, WHAT NOW COMES A TIME WHERE WE JUST PAUSE AND HAVE A FEW MOMENTS TO REALLY REFLECT AS WE'RE GOING TO HEAR OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM IN A MOMENT.

AND AS WE LOOK AROUND AND JUST CELEBRATE FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR TOES TO THE TIPPY TOP OF OUR HEADS HOW SPECIAL IT IS THAT WE LIVE IN AMERICA, AND THAT WE LIVE IN IDAHO.

SO I WANT TO INVITE CHAD MARVIN TO PLEASE COME.

HE'S GOING TO BE JOINED BY A CHOIR, OF TREASURE VALLEY SINGERS FROM ALL OVER, AS THEY COME TO BRING US THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND THEN SOME MORE WONDERFUL MUSIC THAT YOU ARE GOING TO ENJOY AS WE CONTINUE.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, AS WE GET READY FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, YOU KNOW, I DO LOVE THIS ABOUT IDAHOANS.

YOU KNOW HOW TO HONOR OUR FLAG.

YOU SNOW HATS OFF, HANDS ON -- YOU KNOW HATS OFF, HANDS ON OUR HEARTS AN A VOICE FULL OF GRATITUDE.

SO WILL YOU PLEASE WELCOME CHAD MARVIN AND THE CHOIR TO LEAD US IN THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> WELL, I LOVE DEE'S IDEA TO KIND OF GIVE PAUSE AND JUST STAND IN SILENCE FOR A MINUTE BEFORE ELLIEMAE.

HEY, ELLIEMAE.

>> HEY, WHAT UP?

>> JUST TO GIVE PAUSE FOR A MOMENT AND REFLECT.

IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE, A LOVED ONE OR A RELATIVE OR A FRIEND WHO IS IN THE MILITARY, THIS SET, AT LEAST THE SECOND SONG IS REALLY -- WELL, FIRST SONG IS REALLY ABOUT OUR FREEDOM IN THIS COUNTRY, AND IT COMES AT A GREAT COST.

AND MOST OF US DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT COST IS.

SO JUST STAND IN SILENCE FOR A MOMENT AND REFLECT ON THAT FREEDOM.

♪ ♪ O, SAY CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT ♪ ♪ WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING ♪ ♪ WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT ♪ ♪ O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING ♪ ♪ AND THE ROCKETS' RED GLARE, THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR ♪ ♪ GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE ♪ ♪ O, SAY DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE ♪ ♪ O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE ♪ ♪ ♪ FROM THE ROLLING WHEAT FIELDS OF THE PALOUSE ♪ ♪ TO THE WHITEWATER RUNS ON THE PAYETTE'S ROUTE ♪ ♪ GOLDEN POTATOES, FARMERS STAND STRONG ♪ ♪ CATTLE AND DAIRY, THEY'RE FEEDIN' US ALL ♪ ♪ FROM BOISE NIGHTS WITH THE BRIGHT CITY GLOW ♪ ♪ TO COEUR D'ALENE'S CALM WATERS BELOW ♪ ♪ SPUDDY BUDDY WAVES WITH A SMILE SO WIDE ♪ ♪ SHARING OUR STORY WITH AMERICAN PRIDE ♪ ♪ SO RAISE THAT FLAG, LET FREEDOM FLY ♪ ♪ ECHO LIBERTY FROM PLAINS TO MOUNTAINS HIGH ♪ ♪ AMERICA'S HEART BEATS RED, WHITE AND BLUE ♪ ♪ 250 YEARS OF ME AND YOU ♪ YEAH, LIFT IT UP LOUD ♪ IDAHO PROUD ♪ AMERICAN TRUE ♪ ♪ WE'VE WALKED WITH LEWIS AND CLARK ON THE TRAIL ♪ ♪ RAISED OUR FAMILIES WITH STORIES TO TELL ♪ ♪ GENERATIONS WORKING HARD HAND IN HAND ♪ ♪ BUILDING OUR DREAMS SAYIN', YES WE CAN ♪ ♪ SO RAISE THAT FLAG, LET FREEDOM FLY ♪ ♪ ECHO LIBERTY FROM PLAINS TO MOUNTAINS HIGH ♪ ♪ AMERICA'S HEART BEATS RED, WHITE AND BLUE ♪ ♪ 250 YEARS OF ME AND YOU ♪ YEAH, LIFT IT UP LOUD ♪ IDAHO PROUD ♪ AMERICAN TRUE ♪ ♪ CHURCH BELLS RING THROUGH THE VALLEY AIR ♪ ♪ RODEO LIGHTS, WHAT A LIFE WE SHARE ♪ ♪ ESTO PERPETUA, FOREVER WE'LL SING ♪ ♪ GOD, LAND AND FAMILY, ♪ LET FREEDOM RING ♪ RAISE THAT FLAG, LET FREEDOM FLY ♪ ♪ ECHO, LIBERTY FROM PLAINS TO MOUNTAINS HIGH ♪ ♪ AMERICA'S HEART BEATS RED, WHITE AND BLUE ♪ ♪ 250 YEARS OF ME AND YOU ♪ YEAH, LIFT IT UP LOUD ♪ IDAHO PROUD ♪ AMERICAN TRUE ♪ IDAHO PROUD ♪ RED, WHITE, BLUE ♪ >> YEAH!

>> WELL, I -- YOU KNOW, I WAS THINKING ABOUT AN ORIGINAL SONG TO WRITE FOR THIS DAY, AND AS I WAS WRITING THAT SONG, I REMEMBERED MY UNCLE JOHN WHO WAS IN VIETNAM.

AND I USED TO GO AND VISIT HIM WHEN I WAS A KID WITH MY MOM AND DAD.

MY MOM AND DAD WOULD TAKE MY BROTHER AND I HAD TO SEE UNCLE JOHN WHO LIVED BY A LAKE IN THE MICHIGAN WOODS.

AND THEY ALWAYS SAID, DON'T ASK UNCLE JOHN ABOUT THE WAR, BECAUSE HE DOESN'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

WELL, ONE DAY I DID ASK HIM.

I WAS CURIOUS AS A TEENAGER AND I ASKED HIM, UNCLE JOHN, CAN YOU TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT VIETNAM?

AND HE DID SAY HE'D RATHER NOT TALK ABOUT IT, BUT THEN HE SAID, I WILL TELL YOU SOMETHING THAT I WROTE POETRY WHEN I WAS IN THE FIELD.

AND WHEN IT WAS QUIET AND UNDER THE STARS AND THIS WAS NOTHING GOING ON, I WOULD SIT DOWN, WRITE POETRY AND WHEN I GOT BACK FROM MY TOUR, I RECORDED THAT POETRY ON A CAPITCASSETTE TAPE.

HE GOT UP AND WALKED ACROSS THE ROOM AND OPENED A DRAWER AND GAVE ME THIS CASSETTE TAPE.

HE ANDED AND HE SAID, I'D LIKE U TO HAVE IT, AND MAYBE YOU CAN WRITE A SONG ABOUT THESE POEMS.

I TRIED TO PLAY TAPE BUT IT WOULDN'T PLAY IT.

JUST WOULD NOT PLAY.

IT WAS TOO OLD.

THE OXIDE WAS RUBBING OFF THE APE, BUT ON THE TABLE LABEL, HE WROTE "UNDER AN AMERICAN SKY" IN RED LETTERS AND THAT INSPIRED THIS SONG.

IT'S CALLED "UNDER THIS AMERICAN SKY" AND I'M DEDICATING IT TO UNCLE JOHN.

I REALLY HOPE THAT THESE LYRICS WILL HELP US REMEMBER THE COST OF OUR FREEDOM AND WHAT MEN AND WOMEN GAVE FOR IT AND ARE STILL GIVING.

THIS IS "UNDER THIS AMERICAN SKY."

♪ ♪ THERE'S A FLAG FLYING HIGH AT THE EDGE OF TOWN ♪ ♪ KIDS CATCHING FIREFLIES AS THE SUN GOES DOWN ♪ ♪ GRANDDAD ON THE PORCH SWING ♪ ♪ HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE PLACES WHERE FREEDOM STILL SURVIVES ♪ ♪ SOME DAY, SOME DAY TEARS, SOME IN EV NEVER MADE IT HOME ♪ ♪ WE REMEMBER WHAT WE SOWN ♪ FOR UNDER THIS AMERICA SKY ♪ WE STAND SIDE BY SIDE ♪ FRE FREE TO DREAM ♪ ♪ FREE TO LAUGH ♪ T FREE TO CRY ♪ ♪ SO WE STILL RISE UNDER THIS AMERICAN SKY ♪ ♪ ♪ WHITE CROSS ON A HILL ♪ AND STONES WITH VARIOUS NAMES ♪ ♪ FROM THE FARM ROADS TO THE CHURCH BELLS RINGING ♪ ♪ FROM THE SMALL TOWN BARS TO THE SINGING ♪ ♪ WE DIDN'T GET HERE BY CHANCE ♪ ♪ SOME DAYDREAMS ♪ SOME DAY TEARS ♪ SOME NEVER MADE IT HOME ♪ UNDER THIS AMERICAN SKY ♪ WE STAND SIDE BY SIDE ♪ THROUGH THE DREAMS ♪ FREE TO LAUGH ♪ FREE TO CRY ♪ AND SO WE STILL RISE ♪ UNDER THIS AMERICAN SKY ♪ FREE TO DREAM ♪ FREE TO HOPE ♪ FREE TO WORSHIP, FREE TO PRAY ♪ ♪ UNDER THIS AMERICAN SKY ♪ WE STAND SIDE BY SIDE ♪ UNDER THIS AMERICAN SKY ♪ WE STAND SIDE BY SIDE ♪ FREE TO DREAM ♪ FREE TO LAUGH ♪ FREE TO CRY ♪ SOME PEOPLE DIED ♪ SO WE STILL RISE ♪ BY GRACE OF GOD ♪ WE CARRY ON ♪ UNDER THIS AMERICAN SKY ♪ >> THIS IS ELLIEMAE, RIGHT ON.

WOO!

DON WALKER.

RIGHT ON.

DALE DOMARICE, KATRINA NICOLLETTE, THIS IS ETHAN, OUR DRUMMER.

WOO!

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GOD BLESS YOU.

GOD BLESS AMERICA.

>> IN JANUARY, THE LIBERTY BELL REPLICA THAT SITS IN FRONT OF THE STATE HOUSE WAS SHIPPED OFF FOR REPAIRS AS PART OF IDAHO'S AMERICA 250 EFFORTS TO PRESERVE ITS ARTIFACTS.

IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION WAS THERE WHEN THE BELL WAS PACKED UP AND SHIPPED OFF.

AFTER WE LISTEN IN ON THIS, WE WILL TAKE A SNEAK PEEK AT THOSE EFFORTS.

>> WHEN AMERICANS THINK ABOUT THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR COUNTRY, ABOUT THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR FREEDOM, ONE IMAGE OFTEN RISES ALMOST INSTANTLY.

THE LIBERTY BELL.

>> TODAY IS JANUARY 30th, 2026, AND WE'RE HERE TODAY TO SAY FAREWELL TO THE IDAHO LIBERTY BELL THAT'S ON THE STEPS OF THE CAPITOL.

>> ON THIS DAY, IT WILL BE THE DAY THAT IT LEAVES TO GO FOR RESTORATION TO THE PICARD CHRISTOPHE FOUNDRY IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

>> THAT ORIGINAL LIBERTY BELL ISN'T THE LARGEST MONUMENT WE EVER BUILT.

IT'S NOT THE MOST FAMOUS THAT WE'VE EVER HAD.

AND IT ISN'T POLISHED AND PERFECT.

IN FACT, THE LIBERTY BELL IS CRACKED AND YET FOR NEARLY 250 YEARS IT HAS SPOKEN TO US.

SOMETIMES MORE POWERFULLY BECAUSE OF THE CRACK.

[ BELL TOLLS ] >> THE LIBERTY BELL REMINDS US THAT AMERICA WAS FOUNDED ON A BOLD IDEA, THAT FREEDOM BELONGS TO EVERYONE.

NOT JUST THE POWERFUL, NOT JUST THE PRIVILEGED, NOT JUST THOSE WHO CAME FIRST.

LIBERTY WAS MEANT TO BE PROCLAIMED BROADLY, BOLDLY, AND WITHOUT EXCEPTION.

LIBERTY IS NOT JUST BRONZE AND WORWORDS.

IT IS LIVED THROUGH SERVICE, CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY, PARTICIPATION, EDUCATION, COMMUNITY.

>> WE SEE IT IN SOCIETY, THINGS GETTING SHUT DOWN, FENCES PUT AROUND THEM.

THIS PUBLIC JUST NEEDS TO STAND BACK AND LOOK.

MY GOAL FOR AMERICA 250 AND IDAHO CELEBRATION IS THAT PEOPLE PARTICIPATE AND THE BELL REALLY PERSONIFIES THAT.

IF YOU LOOK CLOSE TO IT, THE HAD TO REPLACE THAT YOKE A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE, BUT WE HAVE NEVER LOOKED AT THE UNDERLYING COMPONENTS, THE DIFFERENT PARTS INTO HANGING THAT BELL AND KEEPING IT SO THAT IT'S FUNCTIONAL.

WE ARE ONE OF VERY FEW STATES THAT STILL HAVE A BELL THAT YOU CAN RING.

AND SO WE HAVE CA CARED FOR IT.

IT IS A TREASURE FOR IDAHOANS.

>> WE ARE GONNA SHOW AS IDAHOANS THAT THE MEANING OF THIS LIBERTY BELL WILL LIVE FOREVER.

AND TODAY WE WILL SHOW THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO THAT IDEAL, AS WE CONTINUE TO CARRY ON THE MESSAGE THAT OUR FOUNDERS SET FORWARD FOR US, THOSE 250 YEARS AGO.

>> I HAD AN OFFICE JUST RIGHT DOWN FROM HERE AND I HEARD IT RUNG QUITE FREQUENTLY.

>> AND, OF COURSE, WHEN YOU COME TO THE CAPITOL, THAT'S ONE THE FIRST THINGS THAT YOU DO, BECAUSE IT IS VERY UNUSUAL.

THAT REALLY IS A COMMITMENT ON BEHALF OF IDAHO FOR PUBLIC ACCESS AND THIS BELL IS UNFETTERED.

PEOPLE CAN GET TO IT AND THEY CAN RING IT AND BE PART OF THAT HISTORY EVER DAY.

>> YOU HEAR IT AND YOU THINK, WOW, SOMEONE HAS DONE IT AGAIN.

AND FOR THEM, IT'S THE FIRST TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR CARING.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND GOD BLESS THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> AND JOYING ME TO DISCUSS THAT NEWLY REFURBISHED LIBERTY BELL IS STATE TREASURER JULIE ELLSWORTH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

HOW HAPPY ARE YOU TO SEE THAT REFURBISHED BELL FINALLY.

>> WELL, THIS IS LIKE SEEING SOMETHING THAT WE IMAGINED A YEAR AGO, AND WHEN I SAW THAT LAND ON THE AXLE, I THOUGHT, WOW, THIS IS REAL.

AND THE RECEPTION IS BEAUTIFUL.

IDAHOANS LOVE IT.

VERY EXCITED.

>> YOU WERE ON THE PARADE FLOAT.

>> MM-HMM.

>> ESCORTING THE LIBERTY BELL.

HOW WAS THE REACTION WHEN PEOPLE SAW IT?

>> IT WAS -- WE HAD THE BELL RINGING.

AND EVERY TIME IT WOULD RING, PEOPLE WOULD CHEER.

IT WAS -- IT WAS LOVED, RIGHT?

>> SCREAMED.

>> SCREAMED.

THEY WERE ALL JUST SO EXCITED.

THEY WERE YELLING AND CLAPPING AND SAYING LET FREEDOM RING.

IT WAS JUST AMAZING.

SO -- >> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, IN THE PACKAGE THAT WE JUST HEARD, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW ONE OF THE REALLY SPECIAL THINGS ABOUT IDAHO'S LIBERTY BELL REPLICA IS THAT THE PEOPLE, EVERYDAY PEOPLE CAN WALK RIGHT UP TO IT AND RING IT.

AND THAT, WITH THIS RESTORATION IS PRESERVED FOR MORE GENERATIONS.

>> AND THEN THE TOUR MEANS THAT WE ARE TAKING IT TO EVERY COUNTY IN IDAHO.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TOUR, BECAUSE WHEN IDAHO ORIGINALLY GOT THE LIBERTY BELL REPLICA IN THE EARLY '50s IT WENT ON A STATEWIDE TOUR SO IDAHOANS OUTSIDE OF BOISE COULD ALSO SEE THAT REPLICA.

WE'RE DOING THE SAME THING THIS YEAR.

>> YES.

>> WHAT IS THE PLAN?

>> THIS WAS THE FIRST STAGE.

WE HAD TO GET IT ON A VEHICLE, RIGHT, JAN?

>> YES.

>> WE LABELED IT THE LIBERTY BELL TOUR.

BEGINNING IN AUGUST, THERE WILL BE A SCHEDULE RELEASED AND IT WILL BE GOING TO ALL THE COMMUNITIES, ALL THE COUNTIES FOR SURE.

AND THEN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES.

IT WILL BE VERY EXCITING.

AND EACH COMMUNITY WILL CREATE THEIR OWN CELEBRATION TO HAVE THIS LIBERTY BELL COME.

IT'S SO HISTORIC.

I'M EXCITED FOR THEM.

>> AND IT'S A BIG STORY, BECAUSE WE SENT THE LIBERTY BELL BACK TO THE ORIGINALLY FOUNDRY, THE BELL CHRISTOPHE IN SOUTH CAROLINA, AND THAT'S WHERE ALL THE LIBERTY BELLS ACROSS THE STATE WERE PRODUCED IN 1950.

SO, LIKE, IT WENT HOME TO BE RESTORED AND NOW IT'S TELLING ITS STORY IN A BIGGER WAY, ACROSS THE STATE AND THEN BACK HERE AT THE CAPITOL.

>> YES.

>> NOW, YOU KNOW THAT IT HAD ORIGINALLY GONE -- WHEN IT ARRIVED HERE IN 76 YEARS AGO, IT HAD GONE TO ALL THE COUNTIES.

>> YES.

>> YOU SAID THAT?

>> YEAH, YEAH.

IT'S SO GREAT THAT THAT IS HAPPENING AGAIN.

THIS IS A MASSIVE PART OF WHAT YOU TWO HAVE BEEN DOING FOR AMERICA 250 HERE IN IDAHO, BUT IT IS JUST ONE OF THE SMALL, MANY, MANY THINGS THAT YOU HAVE DONE.

DIRECTOR GALLIMORE, LET'S START WITH YOU.

YOUR STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING SO HARD.

I'M THINKING OF STATE HISTORIAN, HANNAH LORI HINE TO MAKE SURE THAT IDAHOANS ACROSS THE STATE KNOW NOT JUST WHAT IS GOING ON THIS YEAR BUT CONNECTING THAT WITH OUR HISTORY.

>> YES, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR AMERICA 250 AND IDAHO AND THE GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE, WE HAVE ALL BEEN WORKING TOGETHER.

AND OUR AGENCY HAS CHAMPIONED THE ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM.

SO HANNAH LORI HAS HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF ORAL HISTORIES FROM IDAHOANS TALKING ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN AMERICAN BUT THE IDEA OF IDAHO IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR AMERICAN STORY.

WE HAVE EXHIBITS AT THE STATE HOUSE.

WE HAVE TWO AMAZING EXHIBITS AT THE IDAHO STATE MUSEUM, UNITED WE CELEBRATE AND FOUR SCORE AND SEVEN YEARS, BEFORE WHICH FEATURE REMARKABLE ARTIFACTS.

WE HAVE AN EXHIBIT AT THE IDAHO STATE ARCHIVES AND EXHIBITS STATEWIDE.

SO PEOPLE -- I THINK WE HAVE OVER 200 EVENTS ON THE IDAHO -- AMERICA 250 IN IDAHO WEBSITE WHICH IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER A YEAR TO GET PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THESE AMAZING SYMBOLS LIKE THE LIBERTY BELLS.

THESE ARTIFACTS ARE EMOTIONAL TO PEOPLE AND THAT'S WHY ARTIFACT, ARCHIVES, RECORDS, HISTORIC SITES, BUILDINGS MATTER, LIKE OUR STATE CAPITOL BECAUSE THEY SYMBOLIZE PIECES, PLACES AND HISTORY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND TREASURER ELLSWORTH.

>> SO THAT WASN'T ENOUGH FOR IDAHO.

THE LEGISLATURE CREATED THE COUNCIL.

I WAS KIND OF ON THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE OF IT, WHICH IS REALLY PERSONIFIES GRASSROOTS.

WE TRIED TO CREATE A NETWORK THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE.

WE MADE THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM.

WE HAVE ABOUT 2,000 AMBASSADORS THAT JUST GOT INVOLVED IN THEIR VARIOUS COMMUNITIES.

WE ALSO -- I DID MAKE THOSE -- THOSE REVOLUTIONARY -- >> THE SPUDDY BUDDIES.

>> THEY HAVE TRAVELED AND GONE OVER 53,000 MILES TO ALL OF THESE EVERYBODIES, GETTING PEOPLE TO -- THESE EVENTS, GETTING PEOPLE TO SIGN THE HISTORIC SCROLL.

I THINK THE CROWNING EVENT.

THERE'S SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS THAT THE AMBASSADORS DID, THE QUILT.

>> AND I'M SO SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF.

WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

LET'S TOSS IT TO THE STAGE.

>> OKAY.% >> OUR LIBERTY BELL!

IDAHO'S LIBERTY BELL HAS BEEN UNDERGOING RESTORATION.

IF YOU WERE ALONG THE PARADE ROUTE, THEN YOU GOT TO SEE THE BELL IN ALL OF ITS GLORY BACK IN IDAHO.

WE HAVE TO THANK JULIE ELLSWORTH, SHE'S THE TREASURER AND SHE SHEPHERDED THE LIBERTY BELL THROUGH THE PARADE AND HAS IT OVER HER HERE TO MY LEFT AND TO YOUR RIGHT.

LIBERTY BELLS ARE RINGING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND NOW WE GET TO HEAR OUR RESTORED BACK IN IDAHO LIBERTY BELL RINGING OUT LIBERTY FOR US AT OUR 250th CELEBRATION HERE IN THE STATE CAPITOL.

THANK YOU.

SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD!

THE SOUND OF FREEDOM.

IT'S A GOOD SIGN.

WE ARE BLESSED, AREN'T WE, THOUGH?

I WANT TO ASK IF SENATOR ADAMS IS CLOSE BY, IF YOU WOULD COME ON UP.

SENATOR ADAMS.

WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE, AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, WORKING REALLY HARD TO MAKE THIS DAY HAPPEN FOR ALL OF US AND SO WE OWE THEM A DEBT OF GRATITUDE, THE STATE OF IDAHO, AMERICA 250 IDAHO COMMITTEE, THAT WAS WORKING ON THIS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND SO WE WANT TO THANK THOSE FOLKS THAT HAVE MADE IT HAPPEN.

AND HERE'S ANOTHER ONE.

THIS IS SENATOR ADAMS FROM NAMPA.

SENATOR, WELCOME.

LET'S GIVE HIM A BIG THANK YOU.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> ONE SECOND, GUYS.

I TALK WITH MY HANDS.

OKAY.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!

[ CHEERS ] WE HAVE BEEN PLANNING THIS FOR A LONG TIME, BUT, MAN, IT HAS LIVED UP TO THE HYPE.

AND IT IS -- IT IS SO GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL TODAY, AND WE'RE UNDERNEATH THAT AMERICAN FLAG, THAT SAME FLAG THAT HAS FLOWN THROUGH REVOLUTION AND REUNION.

HARDSHIP AND HEALING AND SACRIFICE AND TRIUMPH.

AND WE'RE NOT HERE JUST TO CELEBRATE A DATE ON A CALENDAR.

WE'RE HERE TO HONOR THE PROMISE THAT THAT DATE REPRESENTS.

THE PROMISE OF LIBERTY, SELF-GOVERNMENT AND A NATION BUILT ON THE BELIEF THAT FREE PEOPLE CAN SHAPE THEIR OWN DESTINY.

YOU KNOW, 250 YEARS AGO, A SMALL GROUP OF PATRIOTS PUT THEIR NAMES TO AN IDEA THAT CHANGED THE WORLD.

AND THEY DECLARED THAT RIGHTS DO NOT COME FROM KINGS OF GOVERNMENTS, BUT FROM OUR CREATOR AND THAT GOVERNMENT EXISTS BY THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED AND THAT PEOPLE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY AND THE POWER TO BUILD A COUNTRY WORTHY OF THAT FREEDOM.

THAT WAS A BOLD IDEA BACK THEN.

AND IT'S STILL BOLD TODAY.

BUT GENERATION AFTER GENERATION, CITIZENS HAVE ANSWERED THAT CALL TO MAKE OUR COUNTRY STRONGER, FREER, AND MORE FAITHFUL TO ITS COUNFOUNDINGPRINCIPLES, WHETHERS FARMERS OR FACTORY WORKERS, TEACHERS, FIRST RESPONDERS, ENTREPRENEURS, AND SERVICE MEMBERS, PARENTS AND NEIGHBORS, ALL AMERICANS HAVE DONE EXTRAORDINARY THINGS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT THIS NATION WAS WORTH BUILDING, DEFENDING AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WORTH PASSING ON.

I HAVE TWO KIDS.

LET ME TELL YOU, I BELIEVE THAT.

WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR INDEPENDENCE, BUT WE LOOK FORWARD WITH CONFIDENCE.

OUR COUNTRY FACES REAL CHALLENGES AND EVERY GENERATION HAS.

BUT THE AMERICAN SPIRIT IS NOT A SPIRIT OF FEAR.

IT HAS BEEN -- WE ARE DEFINED BY COURAGE, FAITH, INGENUITY, HARD WORK AND HOPE.

WE HAVE CROSSED FRONTIERS AND SOLVE PROBLEMS, AND START BUSINESSES.

WE SERVE EACH OTHER.

WE CARE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS AND WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO DREAM BIG!

BIGGER THAN WE DID.

NOW, THE FUTURE OF WASHINGTON, D.C., THE FUTURE OF AMERICA WILL NOT BE WRITTEN IN WASHINGTON, D.C.. NOT ENTIRELY.

IT'S WRITTEN RIGHT HERE, BY YOU.

IT'S WRITTEN IN TOWNS AND CITIES ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, CLASSROOMS, CHURCHES, FARMS, MAIN STREETS, IN LIVING ROOMS WHERE FAMILIES ARE TEACHING THE VALUES OF HONESTY, RESPONSIBILITY, SERVICE, AND THE LOVE OF THEIR COUNTRY.

HAT'S WHERE OUR FUTURE IS.

BUT THAT IS NOT A PASSIVE ACTION.

FREEDOM ALSO ASKS SOMETHING FROM US.

IT ASKS US TO VOTE.

IT ASKS US TO SERVE EACH OTHER, TO LISTEN, TO FORGIVE AND BELIEVE THAT OUR BEST DAYS ARE STILL AHEAD.

[ APPLAUSE ] THE STORY IS STILL BEING WRITTEN.

WE ARE STILL WRITING THAT STORY.

AND IF WE WE H HOLD FAST TO THE FOUNDING IDEALS AND WE KEEP THE FAITH WITH THE GENERATIONS THAT CAME BEFORE US, THEN THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY IS BRIGHT.

I CAN SO PROUD OF THIS COUNTRY.

I'M SO PROUD OF ALL OF YOU.

I'M SO PROUD OF THE COUNTRY THAT WE ALL LOVE.

AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE COUNTRY WE ARE BUILDING, I'M HOPEFUL ABOUT IT.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE LESSONS OF FREEDOM THAT WE CAN BE HERE TODAY TOGETHER, CELEBRATING REGARDLESS OF DIFFERENCES.

THIS IS AMERICA, WHERE YOU CAN BELIEVE WHAT YOU WANT TO BELIEVE.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

GOD BLESS THE STATE OF IDAHO.

GOD BLESS AMERICA.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!

THANK YOU!

>> THANK YOU, SENATOR.

THANK YOU SENATOR ADAMS FROM NAMPA.

AS I WAS LISTEN TO HIS VOICE RING OUT, I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE WALKING AROUND, ENJOYING THE SCENERY, THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY, THE BREEZE THAT IS REALLY NICE ON THIS WARM DAY.

I WANT TO REMIND YOU, PLEASE BE SURE THAT YU ARE STAYING HYDRATED.

FREE WATER OVER THERE UNDERNEATH THE TENT OVER IN THIS DIRECTION AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MUCH TO SEE.

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE STATE CAPITOL BUILDING LATELY, I WANDERED OVER THERE.

I RETIRED A FEW YEARS AND I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE STATE CAPITOL BUILDING AS OFTEN AS I USED TO BE.

IT WAS GREAT TO BE REMINDED HOW SPECIAL IT IS THAT WE ARE A PEOPLE, A SELF-GOVERNING PEOPLE.

SO GREAT TO BE WITH YOU ALL TODAY.

MY NAME IS DEE SARTON AND I GET TO INTRODUCE WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE STAGE UP HERE.

WE'RE GETTING READY FOR ANOTHER GREAT SET OF MUSIC FROM AN I IDAHO -- REAL IDAHO TREASURE, AND THAT'S JEFF CROSBY.

OH, YOU GOT YOUR FRIENDS OUT HERE IN FORCE.

YEAH.

WELL, KEEP THAT UP BECAUSE THAT MAKES IT IT FUN FOR EVERYBODY HERE.

I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO LOOK AT THE SHADE.

ISN'T SHADE A BEAUTIFUL THING?

OH, MY GOODNESS.

YES.

AND THOSE BEAUTIFUL TREES.

THEY HAVE BEEN THERE LONGER -- >> AND WE WILL BREAK INTO WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE ON THE MAIN STAGE HERE AT CECIL D. ANDRUS PARK.

THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH US.

IT'S A FUN, WARM AFTERNOON.

BUT PEOPLE BEHIND US ARE MILLING ABOUT.

THE PARADE IS NOW OVER.

IT SEEMS LIKE THINGS ARE JUST KICKING OFF FOR A BEAUTIFUL AFTERNOON.

WE ARE JOINED HERE WITH JUSTICE GREG BOWLER, FROM THE IDAHO SUPREME COURT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, MELISSA, THE SUPREME COURT -- ACTUALLY, LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION, JUSTICE, AND THAT IS, WHY IS THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE SUCH AN IMPORTANT DOCUMENT FOR US AS AMERICANS, AS IDAHOANS TODAY.

>> I THINK YOU WILL HEAR A LOT OF SPEECHES ABOUT SOME OF THE GREAT THINGS IT SAYS IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

LET ME SPEAK AS A JUDGE.

THERE ARE REALLY TWO PARTS TO THE DECLARATION.

THE FIRST PART THAT WE ALL TALK ABOUT AND REMEMBER, AND WE DO SO FOR A REASON IS THE ASPIRATIONAL PART THAT TALKS ABOUT ALL MEN BEING CREATED EQUAL THAT, THIS ERR ENDOWED WITH BY THE CREATOR WITH CERTAIN INALIENABLE RIGHTS BUT THERE'S A SECOND PART TO THE DECLARATION THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS DISCUSS.

THE SECOND PART READS LIKE A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AGAINST KING GEORGE III OUTLINING ALL OF HIS OFFENSES AGAINST THE COLONIES.

AND ONE OF THOSE IS THE INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY.% HE TALKS ABOUT HOW HE WOULD FIRE JUDGES THAT HE DIDN'T AGREE WITH.

THAT HE WOULD DENY PAY TO JUDGES THAT HE WOULDN'T AGREE WITH.

THAT HE CANCELED THE RIGHT TRIAL BY JURY FOR THE COLONISTS.

THAT WAS VERY MUCH ON THE FOUNDERS' MIND WHEN THEY AADOPTED THE U.S.

CONSTITUTION.

THE U.S.

CONSTITUTION TOOK A WHILE.

IN SOME INSTANCES IN MAYBE OVER A CENTURY TO REALIZE SOME OF THOSE ASPIRATIONS BUT ONE THAT THEY REALIZED IMMEDIATELY WAS THE CREATION OF AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY, WHICH I THINK IS THE MOST UNIQUE FEATURE OF OUR CONSTITUTION.

OTHER CONSTITUTIONS HAVE A LEGISLATURE.

OTHER NATIONS HAVE HISTORIC, LIKE THE ROMAN SENATE, THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

OTHER NATIONS HAVE HAD AN EXECUTIVE, TYPICALLY A MONARCH OR A KING OR A QUEEN, RIGHT?

BUT WHAT WAS UNIQUE ABOUT AMERICA WASN'T THAT WE HAD JUDGES, BUT THAT THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION CREATED INDEPENDENT -- AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY.

I THINK IT'S THE MOST NOTEWORTHY EXPERIMENT OF OUR CONSTITUTION AND THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE.

I THINK IT'S WHAT DISTINGUISHES OUR NATION FROM ALL OF OTHER NATIONS AND I THINK THAT HAS ITS LINEAGE DATING BACK TO THE DECLARATION AND THE OFFENSES AGAINST THE JUDICIARY THAT KING GEORGE III .

>> YEAH.

>> SO AS WE ARE WAITING FOR JEFF CROSBY TO GET STARTED, I DO HAVE TO ASK, JUS JUSTICE MOELLER WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

>> THAT'S LIKE ASKING A DAD OR A GRANDFATHER WHO IS THEIR FAVORITE CHILD.

IF I HAD TO PICK MY FAVORITE, THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, FIRST AMENDMENT.

THAT'S RIGHTS.

>> I THINK THE FIRST AMENDMENT, I THINK IS THE CORE UPON WHICH ALL THE OTHER RIGHTS THAT WE ENJOY AS PEOPLE FLOW.

THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH, THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION, OF COURSE THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.

I THINK WITHOUT THOUGH THINGS ALL THE OTHER RIGHTS DON'T MEAN NEARLY AS MUCH.

>> I THINK THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL ANSWER AND ONE THE REASONS I HAVE BEEN SO EXCITED ABOUT AMERICA 250.

WHAT A UNIQUELY AMERICAN RIGHT THAT WE HAVE.

>> I DO LOVE THE OTHERS TOO.

>> I UNDERSTAND.

I ALSO LOVE THE THIRD AMENDMENT, MYSELF.

>> OH, THE THIRD IS PROBABLY ONE THAT DOESN'T GET A LOT OF PLAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

JUSTICE MOELLER THANK YOU SO MUCH.

JEFF CROSBY IS GETTING READY TO PLAY LE.

LET'S LISTEN IN.

>> ALL RIGHT, FOLKS.

WE'RE HERE.

>> WE MADE IT.

WHAT A PARTY.

WE STARTED FROM WEST YELLOWSTONE, MONTANA, BUT WE KNEW WE HAD TO GET TO IDAHO.

WE COULDN'T MISS THIS ONE.

WE WILL GET OURSELVES WARMED UP.

I WILL START WITH A SONG I WROTE UP IN VALLEY COUNTY, UP NEAR DONNELLY.

IT'S CALLED "RUNNING FREE."

IT WILL GET US WARMED UP.

♪ ♪ I USED TO RUN A COUPLE HOURS FROM HERE ♪ ♪ SMOKING THE CIGARETTES AND DRINKING CHEAP BLACK BEER ♪ ♪ DREAMING OF MOVING TO THE CITY ♪ ♪ DAYDREAMING ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE'D BE IN TEN YEARS ♪ ♪ AND I MOVED TO CALIFORNIA ♪ STILL LOOKING FOR A CITY THAT BELONGS TO ME ♪ ♪ AND I CONTINUE TO BE RUNNING FREE ♪ ♪ EVERY TOWN THAT COMES BY, 6315 AND I'M RUNNING FREE ♪ ♪ I'VE BEEN GETTING ON THE ROAD IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS ♪ ♪ WONDERING IF I GAVE MY YOUTH AWAY ♪ ♪ THINK ABOUT THE POWER ♪ AND EVERY TIME, IN A DIFFERENT PLACE ♪ ♪ I THINK EVERYBODY IS RAISING THERE ARE KIDS ♪ ♪ I WATCH YOU FROM ACROSS THE ROAD ♪ ♪ AND I WONDER IF I WILL EVER LET IT PULL ME IN ♪ ♪ EVERY TIME I CLOSE MY EYES ♪ I'M BACK IN 83615 IN THE RUNNING ♪ ♪ OH, EVERY TIME I CLOSE MY EYES, ♪ ♪ I'M 83615 AND I'M RUNNING FREE ♪ ♪ RUNNING FREE ♪ EVERY TIME I CLOSE MY EYES, I'M BACK IN 83615 AND I'M RUNNING FREE ♪ ♪ LORD, EVERY TIME I CALL MY EYES ♪ ♪ I'M BACK FREE 83615 AND I'M RUNNING FREE ♪ ♪ RUNNING FREE ♪ >> HEY, ONE FOR DONNELLY!

>> I WROTE THIS WITH MY FRIEND MICKEY.

WE WERE WITH THEM IN AUGUST.

I WROTE THIS IN BOSTON A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

WE WILL HOLD THIS TOWN TOGETHER, ONE FOR RANDY PRIEST, MAY HE REST IN PEACE.

♪ ♪ I HAVEN'T BEEN IN CHURCHES IN YEARS ♪ ♪ EVERY TIME I'M BACK IN THIS TOWN, DRINKING WITH OLD FRIENDS ♪ ♪ WE END UP RUNNING ♪ YEAH, TWO MORE ROUNDS FOR RANDY ♪ ♪ AND HIS GLASS CONTAINS BOURBON ♪ ♪ I KNOW EVERYTHING IS CHANGING ♪ ♪ I KNOW NOTHING WILL LAST FOREVER ♪ ♪ GOD BLESS THE FOLKS THAT TRIED TO HARD TO HOLD THIS TOWN TOGETHER ♪ ♪ ♪ IS ABIGAIL STILL SLINGING DRINKS DOWN AT THE 219 NOSE IS DAVE STAYING LATE TO SHOOT THE BREEZE AND KEEP HER COMPANY ♪ ♪ DOES HE STILL THINK THE GOOD OLD DAYS ARE WHEN SHE WAS 18 ♪ ♪ SITTING ON HER BOYFRIEND'S BASEMENT, HIGH ON METHAMPHETAMINE ♪ ♪ AND IT'S ONE MORE ROUND FOR RANDY ♪ ♪ FOR LOIS AND FOR VERN ♪ PASS THE ONE-HITTER, THE SALMON RIVER QUITTER ♪ ♪ PASS THE FLASK OF JANEY'S BOURBON ♪ ♪ I KNOW EVERYTHING'S CHANGING ♪ ♪ AND I KNOW NOTHING LASTS FOREVER ♪ ♪ GOD BLESS THE FOLKS THAT TRY SO HARD TO HOLD THIS TOWN TOGETHER ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ LISTENING TO THIS DIVE BAR BAND, I'M STARING AT MY CHECK ♪ ♪ LAST CALL WAS A WHILE AGO, BUT WE AIN'T DONE DRINKING YET ♪ ♪ I MAKE MY WAY DOWN LAKE STREET IN MY OLD MAN'S '65 ♪ ♪ WITH THE SAME CAR FULL OF LOSERS THAT COULD NEVER SAY GOOD NIGHT ♪ ♪ YEAH, IT'S ONE MORE ROUND FOR RANDY ♪ ♪ FOR LOIS AND FOR VERN ♪ PASS THE ONE-HITTER, THE SALMON RIVER QUITTER ♪ ♪ PASS THE FLASK OF JANEY'S BOURBON ♪ ♪ I KNOW EVERYTHING'S CHANGING ♪ ♪ AND I KNOW NOTHING LASTS FOREVER ♪ ♪ GOD BLESS THE FOLKS THAT TRY SO HARD YEAH, TWO MORE ROUNDS FOR RANDY ♪ ♪ FOR LOIS, AND FOR VERN ♪ PASS THE ONE-HITTER ♪ THE SALMON RIVER QUITTER ♪ PASS THE FLASK OF JANEY'S BOURBON ♪ ♪ I KNOW EVERYTHING IS CHANGING ♪ ♪ I KNOW NOTHING LASTS FOREVER ♪ ♪ GOD BLESS THE FOLKS THAT TRY TO SO HARD TO HOLD THIS TOWN TOGETHER ♪ ♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> ALL RIGHT.

ONE, TWO... ♪ ♪ I LIVE ALONE NOW ♪ ♪ HE HAD HIS TROUBLE ON THE ROAD ♪ ♪ I SPOKE TO MY OLD MAN ♪ YEAH, I FINALLY EASED AWAY ♪ NOW THE LINES ARE DRAWN ♪ NO MORE RUNNING ♪ NO MATTER WHERE YOU'RE FROM ♪ ♪ IF YOU ARE OLD OR YOU ARE YOUNG ♪ ♪ OH, I STILL COUNT MY MONEY ♪ BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIT TO BELIEVE IT ♪ ♪ AND W WHEN I LOOK AROUND ♪ ♪ THERE ARE PEOPLE AROUND ME ♪ THERE ARE SEARCHING FOR THE SAME THINGS ♪ ♪ BROKEN HEART IN THE RIVER ♪ HOPING TO SEE THE OCEAN SOME DAY ♪ ♪ I'VE BEEN LOST NOW ♪ FOR 20 YEARS AGO ♪ NOBODY IS EVER GONNA FIND ME ♪ ♪ YEAH, I'M JUST WALKING ♪ I'M FOLLOWING THE SHADOW ♪ I'M LISTENING TO THE ECHOES FROM BEHIND ME ♪ ♪ AND I'M WALKING AROUND ♪ WHAT A LONELY, FRIENDLY TOWN ♪ ♪ JUST A FEW PIECES OF INSPIRATION ♪ ♪ GO BACK TO WHERE I AM ♪ OH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIT TO BELIEVE IT ♪ ♪ WHEN I LOOK AROUND ♪ THE PEOPLE AROUND ME ♪ ALL BUSY SEARCHING FOR THE SAME THINGS ♪ ♪ THROW YOUR HEART IN THE RIVER ♪ ♪ HOPING TO SEE THE OCEAN SOME DAY ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ THROW YOUR HEART IN THE RIVER ♪ ♪ HOPING TO SEE THE OCEAN SOME DAY ♪ ♪ THROW YOUR HEART IN THE RIVER ♪ ♪ HOPING TO SEE THE OCEAN SOME DAY ♪ ♪ YEAH ♪ >> ALL RIGHT!

[ APPLAUSE ] ♪ ♪ 4 A.M.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN ♪ A FEW MORE HOURS 'TIL WE GOT TO LOAD IN ♪ ♪ MY DRUMMER GOT SOMETHING FROM A FRIEND OF A FRIEND ♪ ♪ IT'S THE HAIR OF A DOG FOR THE WIN ♪ ♪ STONE AND WORK UNTIL WE PLAY ♪ ♪ STONE AND WORK UNTIL WE PLAY ♪ ♪ STONE AND WORK UNTIL WE PLAY ♪ ♪ SOMETIMES IT'S A NIGHTMARE ♪ SOMETIMES IT'S A DREAM ♪ SOMETIMES NEW ORLEANS ♪ FROM BOSTON TO AUSTIN ♪ TO THE CITY TREES ♪ AND EVERY LITTLE TOWN IN BETWEEN ♪ ♪ STONE AND WORK UNTIL WE PLAY ♪ ♪ STONE AND WORK UNTIL WE'RE PLAYING ♪ ♪ STONE AND WORK UNTIL WE'RE PLAYING ♪ ♪ ♪ MY NEIGHBORS GOT A PBIA ♪ STONE AND WORK 'TIL WE'RE PLAYING ♪ ♪ STONE AND WORK 'TIL WE PLAY ♪ ♪ STONE AND WORK 'TIL WE'RE PLAYING ♪ ♪ STONE AND WORK 'TIL WE PLAY ♪ ♪ YEAH, STONE AND WORK ♪ YEAH, STONE AND WORK ♪ YEAH, STONE AND WORK ♪ ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] ♪ >> ALL RIGHT.

♪ ♪ ♪ DON'T LAUGH TOO HARD, DARLING ♪ ♪ EVERYONE WANTS ♪ TELL HER THAT I LOVE HER ♪ I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HER NAME ♪ ♪ AFTER ALL THE SMALL TALK, ♪ THEY ARE ALL THE SAME ♪ YEAH, THEY'RE ALL THE SAME ♪ YEAH, I DON'T NEED GIVENESS FORGIVENESS FOR I HAVE DONE ♪ ♪ YEAH, WHAT I'VE BECOME ♪ YEAH, I'M LOOKING, LORD ♪ I AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET ♪ I'M DREAMING OF A PLACE THAT I PROBABLY DON'T BELONG ♪ ♪ LIKE MY OLD MAN SAYS, KEEP ON KEEPING ON ♪ ♪ OH, LIKE MY OLD MAN SAYS, KEEP ON KEEPING ON ♪ ♪ OH, WOMEN ARE FROM MARS, EVERYTHING YOU CAN PROVE ♪ ♪ ♪ I GO THROUGH THE DARKNESS ♪ AND I SHINE ON ♪ YEAH, ON YOU ♪ ♪ ♪ YEAH, WE'RE WAITING ON A MIRACLE ♪ ♪ LOOKING FOR AN EAGLE ♪ ME, I JUST CAN'T STAY ♪ I'M LOOKING LORD, FOR SOMETHING ♪ ♪ YEAH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD, I AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET ♪ ♪ I'M FREE PEACE ON EARTH ♪ PROBABLY I DON'T BELONG ♪ LIKE MY OLD MAN, KEEP ON KEEPING ON ♪ ♪ LIKE MY OLD MAN SAID, KEEP ON KEEPING ON ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WAITING ON A MIRACLE ♪ WAITING ON A MIRACLE ♪ WAITING ON A MIRACLE ♪ WAITING ON A MIRACLE ♪ WAITING ON A MIRACLE ♪ WAITING ON A MIRACLE ♪ WAITING ON A MIRACLE, SOMETHING IS ON ITS WAY ♪ ♪ WAITING ON A MIRACLE ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] >> WOO HOO!

>> I'LL GET YOU ANOTHER ONE.

WHAT A TIME, WHAT A PLACE.

>> WE ARE GOING TO DO OUR IDE ANOTHER SONG.

I WROTE THIS WHEN I WAS 16 YEARS OLD.

♪ ♪ ♪ DRINKING WHISKEY GOT ME THINKING ♪ ♪ AS THE SUN WAS SETTING LOW ♪ I GOT ANOTHER DAY TOMORROW IN THESE MOUNTAINS ALL ALONE ♪ ♪ IN THE FOREST, RUNNING WILD, WIND WOULD WHISPER AS IT BLOWS ♪ ♪ I SPENT MY TIME HERE AS A CHILD IN IDAHO ♪ ♪ LOOKING UP AT THE SWAYING TREES AND I CAN HEAR THEM TALKING TO ME ♪ ♪ ASSURING ME THAT I AM NOT ALONE ♪ ♪ OH, FLATTERING YELLOW LEAVES, SLOWLY FALL FROM THE ASPEN TREES ♪ ♪ OH, IT'S SHOWING ME DIRECTIONS WHERE TO GO ♪ ♪ AND I DON'T KNOW ♪ I DON'T KNOW ♪ IF THERE'S ANOTHER PLACE THAT I COULD CALL MY HOME ♪ ♪ OH, IDAHO ♪ IDAHO ♪ WELL, IT'S WHERE I COME FROM, WHERE I'VE GROWN ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ALWAYS WONDERED WHAT IT'D BE LIKE ♪ ♪ TO GET A TASTE OF THAT CITY LIFE ♪ ♪ OH, WHEN I GOT THIS, IT SEEMED TO CLEAR TO ME ♪ ♪ I HAD TO TRADE IN ALL THESE BUILDINGS FOR OLD PINE TREES ♪ ♪ AND THE ENDLESS MOUNTAINS AND THE RESERVOIR ♪ ♪ AND THE RED TAIL FOXES AND LIQUOR STORE ♪ ♪ OH, THE FIREPLACES, THE HAT SHOP ♪ ♪ AND IT'S TAKEN YEARS FOR ME TO FINALLY UNDERSTAND ♪ ♪ I DON'T KNOW ♪ I DON'T KNOW ♪ IF THERE'S ANOTHER PLACE THAT I COULD CALL MY HOME ♪ ♪ OH, IDAHO ♪ IDAHO ♪ WELL, IT'S WHERE I COME FROM ♪ ♪ WHERE I'VE GROWN ♪ ♪ ♪ I DON'T KNOW ♪ I DON'T KNOW ♪ IF THERE'S ANOTHER PLACE THAT I COULD CALL MY HOME ♪ ♪ OH, IDAHO, IDAHO ♪ WELL, IT'S WHERE I COME FROM, WHERE I'VE GROWN ♪ ♪ OH, IT'S WHERE I WAS PLANTED ♪ ♪ AND I'VE GROWN ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] >> OKAY.

>> I'VE BEEN LIVING DOWN IN TEXAS THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE -- MY FAVORITE TEXAS SONGS.

I HEARD DOLLY AND BOB DYLAN AND CLARK AND ALL OF THESE GREAT TEXAS SONGWRITERS HELPED ME ON THAT SCENE.

I WOULD BE LISTENING TO THE SCORPIONS AND THE FLEETWOOD MAC.

IT'S CALLED "KATE."

♪ ♪ EIGHT YEARS OLD ♪ ALL AROUND HIS KNOCK ♪ AND CLIMBING UP ON TOP OF THE GARAGE ♪ ♪ HIS COURAGE WAS UP SO HIGH ♪ HE GOT A RUNNING START ♪ BLESS HIS HEART ♪ IT'S ONE OF THOSE WHO KNOWS IT WAS JUST A LEAP OF FAITH ♪ ♪ SPREAD YOUR ARMS AND HOLD YOUR BREATH ♪ ♪ AND ALWAYS TRUST YOUR CAPE ♪ ♪ HE'S FULL OF GRIT ♪ AND EARLY BIRDS AT THE SCENE ♪ ♪ IT WAS DO OR DIE ♪ HE WASN'T SCARED OR NOTHING, BOYS ♪ ♪ AND I'M PRETTY SURE HE TRIED ♪ ♪ IT'S ONE OF THOSE WHO KNOWS, IT'S JUST A LEAP OF FAITH ♪ ♪ SPREAD YOUR ARMS AND HOLD YOUR BREATH AND ALWAYS TRUST YOUR CAPE ♪ ♪ AS OLD AND GRAY, WITH THE CAPE TIED AROUND HIS HEAD ♪ ♪ STILL JUMPING OFF THE GARAGE ♪ ♪ AND WILL BE UNTIL HE'S DEAD ♪ ♪ EVERYBODY TOLD HIM QUIT ACTING LIKE A KID ♪ ♪ BUT HE DID NOT GO WHERE HE COULD NOT FLY ♪ ♪ AND SO HE DID ♪ HE'S ONE OF THOSE WHO KNOWS LIFE IS JUST A LEAP OF FAITH ♪ ♪ SPREAD YOUR ARMS AND HOLD YOUR BREATH ♪ ♪ AND ALWAYS TRUST YOUR CAPE ♪ HE'S ONE OF THOSE WHO KNOWS THAT LIFE IS JUST A LEAP OF FAITH ♪ ♪ SPREAD YOUR ARMS AND HOLD YOUR BREATH ♪ ♪ AND ALWAYS TRUST YOUR CAPE ♪ OH, SPREAD YOUR ARMS AND HOLD YOUR BREATH ♪ ♪ ALWAYS TRUST YOUR CAPE ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] >> HEY, GUY CLARK, EVERYBODY!

♪ ♪ I THINK WE SHOULD JUST BE FRIENDS ♪ ♪ AND AS MUCH AS I DO IT ♪ I'M ON THE ROAD AGAIN ♪ TOWARDS THE FARMLANDS ♪ MAYBE DENVER IS YOUR DRIVE ♪ AND WE CAN DREAM ABOUT THE COAST AND AT ORANGE AND PURPLE KANSAS SKIES ♪ ♪ ONE THING I CAN'T SHAKE ♪ IS THE WEST COAST ♪ I TRIED TO HARD TO SAY I LOVE YOU ♪ ♪ BUT I CAN ONLY CLEAR MY THROAT ♪ ♪ THERE'S GREENER GRASS I'M GOING TO ♪ ♪ AS THINGS KEEP ON GROWING ♪ TOWARDS THE SUNRISE ON A FREWAY ♪ ♪ THERE'S GREENER GRASS ♪ PICTURING MYSELF A FREE SPIRIT ♪ ♪ A SPIRIT THAT'S BEEN DRUNK ♪ I'M LYING ON MY BACK ♪ FEELING LIKE THERE'S NOWHERE LEFT TO RUN ♪ ♪ I USED TO DREAM ABOUT SEATTLE, SAN FRANCISCO, OR L.A.

♪ ♪ LATELY I'VE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE SEEING BEAUTY THROUGH THE PAIN ♪ ♪ MAYBE I'M BETTER OFF STARING AT THESE CAMPFIRE SPARKS ♪ ♪ AND THE BLUE SKY ♪ AND WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE BACK HOME ♪ ♪ YEAH ♪ ♪ ♪ I CAN'T SAY I LOVE YOU ♪ I THINK WE SHOULD JUST BE FRIENDS ♪ ♪ AND AS MUCH AS, I'M ON THE ROAD AGAIN ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANKS, GUYS.

>> I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SAY THAT.

IN FACT, LET'S DO -- WHAT'S THE OTHER ONE?

WHISKEY RIVER.

IT'S CALLED THE BEST $25 I EVER SPENT.

♪ ♪ WELL, SHE HELPED ME TO FORGET I'M GONNA DIE SOME DAY ♪ ♪ RINGS ME LIKE A DINNER BELL CALLING MY NAME ♪ ♪ CALLS ME LIKE SLEEPING UNDER STARS ON A RIVER BANK ♪ ♪ SHE LINGERS IN MY MIND LIKE THE MIXED UP WORDS, LOVED ME LIKE SUMMER IN DECEMBER ♪ ♪ WRITES ME WITH THE HOTEL PEN AND PAPER ♪ ♪ WHATEVER HAPPENS I'LL NEVER FORGET WHAT YOU SAID TO ME ♪ ♪ WEARING NOTHING BUT YOUR KIN, COCAINE AND THE SUN HAT BABY ♪ ♪ OH, SWIMMING IN THE OCEAN, LIVING IN THE MOMENT ♪ ♪ I REMEMBER NOW AND THEN ♪ THE BEST $25 I EVER SPENT ♪ SHE TALKED ME OUT OF JUMPING OFF THE SIDE OF THIS SHIP ♪ ♪ SHE LOOKS ME IN THE EYE SAYS WHERE WE HEADING NEXT ♪ ♪ SHE SAYS IT EVEN A DREAM IF YOU DON'T CLOSE YOUR EYES LONG ENOUGH TO SEE IT ♪ ♪ SHE TURNS ME ON AND OFF LIKE A FRONT PORCH LIGHT ♪ ♪ TAKES ME TO THE BAR AND MAKES ME DANCE ALL NIGHT ♪ ♪ LOOKS ME IN THE EYES LIKE SHE CAN INSIDE OF THEM ♪ ♪ WHATEVER HAPPENS I'LL NEVER FORGET WHAT YOU SAID TO ME ♪ ♪ WEARING NOTHING BUT YOUR SKIN, COCAINE AND A SUN HAT, BABY ♪ ♪ SWIMMING IN THE OCEAN, LIVING IN THE MOMENT, I REMEMBER NOW AND THEN ♪ ♪ THE BEST $25 I EVER SPENT ♪ ♪ WHATEVER FANTASY THAT BROUGHT ME ♪ ♪ LONELINESS, OR BE IT LOVE OR FEAR ♪ ♪ WHEN I LANDED BACK IN BOGOTA THAT NIGHT ♪ ♪ I IMAGINED YOU IN TAGANGA, MAGDALENA, SEARCHING FOR ANOTHER WAVE TO RIDE ♪ ♪ YEAH ♪ ♪ ♪ EARLY MORNING USUALLY CAME SOMETIME AROUND NOON ♪ ♪ IN A TINY LITTLE SHOE BOX AT THE FAR END ♪ ♪ ROLLING DOWN SUNSET, IN THE CALIFORNIA SUN ♪ ♪ GAM JUMPS INTO MY CONSCIOUS ♪ ♪ SITTING ON A BEACH ♪ ON A POSTCARD LOOKING WEST ♪ LOOKING BACK ON WHAT YOU WERE ♪ ♪ IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS ♪ SOMETIMES I WONDER IF YOU FOUND A PLACE TO LAND ♪ ♪ I'LL ALWAYS MISS YOU ♪ I NEVER WANT YOU BACK AGAIN ♪ ♪ YES, SHE ONLY GETS SO FAR WHEN OPPOSITES ATTRACT ♪ ♪ SHE WAS THE LIFE OF THE PARTY ♪ ♪ SHE REALLY ♪ I WOULD HAVE CALLED AROUND ♪ LOOKING AT THE SUNSET ON PCH ♪ ♪ DAYDREAM ABOUT THE WAY ♪ HEY, I MISS YOU, BUT I NEVER WANT YOU BACK AGAIN ♪ ♪ I WONDER IF YOU'VE EVER FOUND A PLACE TO LAND ♪ ♪ I'LL ALWAYS MISS YOU, BUT I NEVER WANT YOU BACK AGAIN ♪ ♪ I WONDER IF YOU THINK ABOUT ME ♪ ♪ I'LLALWAYS MISS ♪ BUT I NEVER WANT YOU BACK AGAIN ♪ ♪ ♪ I WONDER IF YOU EVER THINK ABOUT ME ♪ ♪ I'LL ALWAYS MISS YOU ♪ I NEVER WANT YOU BACK AGAIN ♪ ♪ I WONDER IF YOU EVER FOUND A PLACE TO LAND ♪ ♪ I'LL ALWAYS MISS YOU ♪ I NEVER WANT YOU BACK AGAIN ♪ ♪ I'LL ALWAYS MISS YOU ♪ BUT I NEVER WANT YOU BACK AGAIN ♪ HEY THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!

THANK YOU!

>> AND WE'RE BACK.

WELCOME TO IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION'S LIVE COVERAGE OF IDAHO'S AMERICA 250 CAPITOL CELEBRATION.

IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US, I'M MELISSA DAVLIN, JOINED BY AARON KUHNS.

WE JUST HEARD FROM JEFF CROSBY.

WHAT AN AMAZING SHOW THAT WAS.

>> THAT WAS.

AND I LIKE HOW THEY'RE PICKING -- IN FACT ALL THE ARTISTS WE HEARD SO FAR ARE I CAN PICKING VERY IDAHO AND AMERICA-SPECIFIC SONGS TO GET PEOPLE IN THAT SPIRIT.

I THINK IT'S AWESOME.

>> IT'S THE KIND OF SHOW THAT'S PERFECT FOR THE 250th ANE SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

WHAT AN EXCITING DAY THIS S. AND WE ARE JOINED BY ONE OF THE PEOPLE WOULD HELPED MAKE SURE THAT THIS WENT ON, REPRESENTATIVE BRANDON MITCHELL FROM MOSCOW.

HE SAT ON THE LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE THAT OVERSAW NOT ONLY THIS, BUT ALSO SO MANY OF THE STATE-WIDE EVENTS.

REPRESENTATIVE MITCHELL, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ALL THE WORK THAT WENT ON BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS HAPPENED.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND, YOU KNOW, THEY PUT ME ON AS THE COCHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE.

AND WHEN THEY PUT ME IN THIS COCHAIR COMMITTEE, I THOUGHT WHAT I WANT TO SEE IS I WANT TO SEE SOME UNITY.

I WANT TO BUILD BACK THE UNITY LIKE THE UNITED STATES WE ARE.

THIS SHOWS THAT WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB ON THAT.

IT HAS JUST TURNED OUT GREAT, THE WHOLE THING.

SOME OF THE BACKGROUND STUFF, WE COMMITTED A SUBCOMMITTEE THAT FOCUSED ON THIS PARTICULAR EVENT, AND THEN A LOT OF OTHER LITTLE EVENTS THAT WE WORKED ON THROUGHOUT THE STATE, WE GAVE SOME GRANTS OUT TO ALL THE COMMUNITIES THAT WANTED TO GET A GRANT SO THEY COULD DO SOME CELEBRATIONS AS WELL.

WHEN THE LEGISLATURE PASSED THROUGH THIS, THE RESOLUTION FOR THIS, WE PUT THE MONEY OFF TO THE SIDE AND SAID WE WANT TO HAVE A CELEBRATION.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS, IS CELEBRATING THE SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL OF AMERICA.

>> IT MUST FEEL NICE ALL THE WORK YOU PUT INTO THIS AND YOU PROBABLY LIKE ANY PROJECT RAN INTO SOME HURDLES AND YOU GOT THROUGH IT AND NOW YOU SEE THE CULMINATION OF ALL OF THAT WORK YOU HAVE BEEN DOING.

>> YES, WE WILL.

EVERY COMMUNITY WILL HAVE DIFFERING OPINIONS AND YOU WILL HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT COME UP AND WHAT WE DID IS WE WERE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT -- THE DIFFERENT IDEAS AND WHAT NOT AND IT ACTUALLY JUST PULLED EVERYBODY TOGETHER AND CREATED WHAT YOU'RE SEEING TODAY.

AND SO IT WORKED OUT REALLY WELL, I THINK.

>> ISN'T THAT, THOUGH -- THAT, TO ME, SPEAKS TO THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I MEAN THAT, DURING THE FIRST CONSTITUTIONAL CONGRESS, THAT IS HOW THEY HAMMERED OUT ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENCES, AND WE SEE THAT PROCESS PLAYING OUT HERE IN THE STATE HOUSE THAT WE'RE SITTING RIGHT IN FRONT OF.

PEOPLE HAVE THEIR DIFFERENCES OF MONEY BUT ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS OF THIS COUNTRY, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT FREELY AND PUBLICLY AND COME TOGETHER TO FIND A SOLUTION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IDAHO DOES THAT SO WELL.

WE ARE ABLE TO WORK WITH ONE ANOTHER.

WE ALL HAVE DIFFERING OPINIONS.

WE ARE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY FORWARD.

I HAVE JUST BEEN PROUD TO BE HERE.

>> WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT, BUT YOU USUALLY, I IMAGINE SPEND THE 4th OF JULY IN MOSCOW.

>> SO USUALLY IN MOSCOW, WE HAVE A BIG PARADE OUT THERE THAT WE'RE USUALLY ATTENDING.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE PUTTING MY NAME THROUGH THERE AND SAY HI TO THE FOLKS OF MOSCOW AND THIS IS WHERE I FELT I NEEDED TO BE TODAY.

>> REPRESENTATIVE BRANDON MITCHELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

AND HAPPY 4th OF JULY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> WE HAVE SO MUCH COMING UP.

IF YOU STICK WITH US, THE AFROSONICS WILL COME UP, FOLLOWED BY HEAD LINER, JOSH RITTER, WHO IS ALSO FROM MOSCOW.

I'M SO EXCITED FOR ALL OF THIS.

>> YOU KNOW, ALL OF THIS IS JUST FUN TO BE HERE IN THE PARK AND I THINK YOU SEE THAT, HEAR THE BANTER, THE PEOPLE TALKING AND WALKING BEHIND US, AND WHATNOT.

I THINK IT'S AWESOME THAT THEY COME OUT HERE TO KIND OF ENJOY THE DAY, BUT, YOU KNOW, AS WE HAVE HEARD FROM PREVIOUS INTERVIEWS, THIS IS KIND OF A SPECIAL DAY AND YOU CAN SEE IT, NOT JUST IN WHAT YOU SEE BEHIND US TODAY, BUT IF YOU WALK INTO THE CAPITOL, THEY'VE GOT THE SIGNATURES HANGING DOWN FROM THE RAFTERS THERE IN THE ROTUNDA AND THEN DOWN BELOW, THE AMERICA 250 LOGO, FOLLOWED BY THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

I MEAN, JUST REALLY AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE AND I HOPE FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T ABLE TO BE HERE -- BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE CELEBRATIONS HAPPENING AROUND THE STATE, THAT YOU REALIZE THAT THIS IS A -- I HOPE A SPECIAL DAY FOR EVERYONE, NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND, YOU KNOW, JOINING US RIGHT HERE, SOMEBODY ELSE WHO REPRESENTS IDAHOANS ACROSS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE IDAHO COMMITTEE ON HISPANIC CONNECTIONS.

>> IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE SUCH A PART OF AN HISTORIC EVENT HERE IN IDAHO.

>> IT'S SUCH A COOL DAY.

CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH WHAT THE IDAHO COMMISSION ON HISPANIC AFFAIRS IS DOING TO MARK AMERICA 250.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TO KICK OFF THINGS TODAY.

WE ACTUALLY DID A FLOAT.

IT WAS WONDERFUL HAVING AN EQUESTRIAN TEAM FROM THE MONTOYA GROUP COME AND JOIN US.

WE HAD YOUNG KIDS, WAVING FLAGS.

IT WAS JUST REALLY, REALLY MEMORABLE TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE OUT HERE CELEBRATING AMERICA 250, GETTING TO SAY, YOU KNOW, HAPPY 4th TO EVERYBODY.

THAT WAS FIRST TIME.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE MARK THAT, BECAUSE SO MANY HISPANICS IN IDAHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, RIGHT?

AND SO WE JUST -- WE LOVE OUR STATE.

WE LOVE OUR COUNTRY.

I WAS REALLY GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF IT.

>> YEAH, I IMAGINE.

YOU HAVE A DAUGHTER.

>> YES, I DO.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE SHE TAKES AWAY FROM THIS EVENT?

>> SHE'S JUST FIVE YEARS OLD.

SHE WILL BE STARTING KINDERGARTEN NEXT MONTH.

I REMEMBERING TO REDFISH LAKE WHEN I WAS 5 YEARS OLD.

I WOULD LOVE FOR THIS TO BE ONE OF HAD ERR EARLY MEMORIES, GETTING TO SEE THE AMERICAN FLAG, COMING INTO THE CAPITOL BUILDING, SEE ALL THE PEOPLE JUST CELEBRATING THIS ANASIRIYAHING EVENT.

I REALLY, REALLY HOPE -- AMAZING EVENT.

I REALLY, REALLY HOPE THAT SHE WILL HOLD ON TO THAT MEMORY AND GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE HERE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY AND THE BEST STATE IN THE NATION, I THINK.

>> ONE OF THE THING ABOUT EVENTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN COVERING FOR IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS WHEN SO MANY OF THESE COMMUNITIES COME TOGETHER TO COMMEMORATE AMERICA 250.

THEY ARE NOT JUST LOOKING AT THE PAST 250 YEARS.

THEY ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THE FUTURE.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHAT DO WE WANT THE NEXT 250 YEARS TO LOOK LIKE?

AND THAT'S WHY I'M SO HEARTENED TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE KEEP THE KIDS IN MIND.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND THIS UPCOMING GROUP OF LEADERS IN MIND AS THEY ARE CELEBRATING A.250.

>> I REALLY LOVE THAT QUESTION TOO, BECAUSE IF I LOOK AT OUR YOUNGYOUNG PEOPLE HERE IN IDAHOD WHAT NOT ONLY THE STATE BUT THIS GREAT NATION HAS TO OFFER, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE NEXT CELEBRATION LIKE THIS, WHETHER IT'S 275 OR 250, AGAIN, I WANT FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND JUST THE BLESSING IT IS TO BE, YOU KNOW, CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY, TO BE CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT STATE AND THAT THEY REMEMBER THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAVE SERVED BEFORE THEM SO THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO BE GRANTED THESE AMAZING FREEDOMS AND AMAZING WAYS OF LIFE THAT WE ENJOY SO MUCH.

I HOPE A LOT OF THAT WILL CONTINUE FORWARD, AGAIN THAT PRIDE OF ELECTRONIC IDAHO, AND, AGAIN, JUST -- PRIDE OF BEING FROM IDAHO AND AGAIN WHAT MEANS TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF AMERICA.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT IS A RESET, A REMINDER OF OUR VALUES AS A COUNTRY AND REMINDS US WHO WE ARE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT, AGAIN, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE AMERICA GREAT, OF COURSE, IS JUST THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY, RIGHT.

>> IT'S THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY.

WE HAVE FANTASTIC RULE OF LAW.

WE HAVE JUST A BEAUTIFUL CULTURE HERE IN IDAHO THAT WE CARE ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORS, THAT WE VALUE EDUCATION, WE VALUE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

WE VALUE FAMILIES.

SO, AGAIN, ALL OF THOSE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE JUST -- JUST PART OF THE FABRIC OF BEING AN IDAHOAN OR AN AMERICAN.

>> FANTASTIC.

DIRECTOR TIPTON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THEY ARE ABOUT TO PRESENT A CHECK TO THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.

LET'S LISTEN IN.

>> I APPRECIATE IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE ARE BACK.

I WANT TO WELCOME YOU BACK TO THE STAGE, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, DO YOU SEE THE BIG OLD CHECK BEHIND ME?

PRETTY SOON, IT'S GOING TO BE GIVEN AWAY AND IT'S A VERY, VERY SPECIAL GIVEAWAY.

BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING IDAHOANS HAVE DONE TOGETHER.

SO I WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, DEBBIE CHRISFIELD.

SHE WILL TELL YOU WHERE THE MONEY CAME FROM AND WHERE IT'S GOING.

>> THANK YOU, DEE.

WE ARE SO HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY WHERE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF AMERICA.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT OUR HISTORY AND WHERE WE CAME FROM.

WE CAN'T LOSE SIGHT OF WHERE WE WILL BE IN THE NEXT 250 YEARS, BUT OUR YOUTH.

IT'S HOW WE SUPPORT THEM, IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT COMES WITH TREMENDOUS PARTNERS LIKE SWIRE COCA-COLA, WORKING WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.

I'M THRILLED AND HONORED TO BE PART OF THIS PRESENTATION, AND HOW WE ARE INVESTING IN OUR IDAHO GEMS AND SO SIMON WITH SWIRE COCA-COLA.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IN HONOR OF AMERICA 250, SWIRE COCA-COLA IS PROUD TO PRESENT A $25,000 CHECK TO THE IDAHO BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> SO THEY WILL ME ABOUT YOUR HEART IN ALL OF THIS.

WHERE IS YOUR HEART AND WHY IS THIS TO IMPORTANT?

>> I THINK ONE THING FOR SURE WITH OUR COMPANY, WE ALWAYS% WANT TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.

WE TALK ABOUT OUR PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AND WHERE THEY GET TO GO AND WHERE THEY GO SOMEWHERE AFTER SCHOOL, SOMETIMES THEY JUST NEED A PLACE TO GO.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GIVE BACK AND THIS WILL GO TOWARDS EDUCATION AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR YOUTH OF IDAHO.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I KNOW YOU GUYS -- WHO WANTS TO SAY A WORD ABOUT BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB?

>> THIS HELPS SO MUCH.

WE SERVE IN I IDAHO LIKE 30,000 KIDS AND IT GIVES THEM WORKFORCE READINESS AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND SO THIS WILL GO A LONG WAY IN HELPING KIDS ALL OVER IDAHO.

SO THANK YOU, SWIRE, COCA-COLA, WE APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> AND THANK YOU, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.

I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE YOU GUYS IN ACTION AND IT'S AN AMAZING ORGANIZATION YOU DO GREAT WORK.

WE LOVE YOU.

WE LOVE COCA-COLA.

SO I WILL LET YOU SAY A FEW MORE WORDS ABOUT IT, BECAUSE IT'S A LOVE FEST.

WE LOVE SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL NONPROFITS AND THIS IS OUR STATE CONTROLLER.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I THINK THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT, CELEBRATING A BIG BIRTHDAY, HAVING A GREAT TIME, BLOWING UP THINGS, HAVING PANCAKES, LISTENING TO GREAT MUSIC AND GETTING A SUNBURN, BUT BEST OF ALL, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

IT'S WHAT WE DO IS GIVE AND SERVE AND HELP EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO TOO AS PUBLIC SERVANTS.

OH, THIS IS GREAT.

WELL, GO SPEND IT WISELY AND WELL, AND HAVE FUN, AND YOU GUYS -- MAYBE WE SHOULD PUT THEM IN CHARGE OF THE DANCE PARTY THAT WILL GO ON RIGHT NOW.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

ARE YOU GUYS READY?

BECAUSE, OH, WOW!

AFROSONICS, UP NEXT, AND THIS IS -- THIS IS A BOISE-BASED FUSION OF FUNK, SOUL, JAZZ, REGGAE, HOW CAN YOU GO WRONG WITH THAT?

ALLAYMENYOU WILL WANT TO GET UPN YOUR FEET.

I WANT TO WELCOME YOU AFROSONICS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WE'LL GIVE YOU THE STAGE AND HAVE FUN.

♪ ♪ >> MIC, CHECK.

ONE, TWO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

♪ >> TEST, TEST, ONE, TWO.

YES?

♪ ♪ ♪ I DON'T CARE WHAT NOBODY SAY ♪ ♪ PLAY IT LOUD, LET THE RADIO PLAY ♪ ♪ I DON'T CARE WHAT NOBODY SAY ♪ ♪ PLAY IT LOUD, LET THE RADIO PLAY ♪ ♪ ♪ WAITING ON A LINE ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ SHAKE IT OVER THERE ♪ SHAKE IT OVER THERE.

ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR ♪ ♪ SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE ♪ SHAKE IT ♪ SHAKE, ONE, TWO ♪ SHAKE IT, SHAKE IT, SHAKE IT ♪ ♪ WOO!

COME ON!

♪ ON ♪ I DON'T CARE WHAT NOBODY SAY ♪ ♪ LET THE RADIO PLAY ♪ LET THE RADIO PLAY ♪ I DON'T CARE WHAT NOBODY SAY ♪ ♪ ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU.

>> WAS A GREAT INTRODUCTION.

I DON'T THINK I COULD TOP THAT.

WE ARE SEEPER SUPER HAPPY TO B. WE WILL GET FUNKY FOR A HALF HOUR OR SO AND THEN WE'LL BE OUT THERE HANGING OUT WITH YOU GUYS.

SO LET'S GET TO IT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ SHAKING ALL OVER ♪ SHAKING ALL OVER ♪ SHAKING ALL OVER ♪ SHAKING ALL OVER ♪ SHAKING ALL OVER ♪ SHAKING ALL OVER ♪ SHAKING ALL OVER ♪ ♪ WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE ♪ THIS IS THE ATMOSPHERE ♪ JUST NEED YOU NEAR ♪ MOMMA, MOMMA, MOMMA ♪ MOMMA, MOMMA ♪ WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE ♪ JUST FEEL THIS ATMOSPHERE ♪ JUST KNOW I NEED YOU HERE ♪ CHECK OUT THIS ATMOSPHERE ♪ MOMMA, MOMMA ♪ ♪ TALK TO ME WITH YOUR LIFE ♪ BREAKING ME DOWN, YOUR LIFE ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ BREAKING ME DOWN IN LIFE ♪ # ♪ ♪ ♪ TAKING ME UP TO THE SKY ♪ YEAH, YEAH ♪ >> THANK YOU GUYS.

ONE THING THAT -- WE HAVE A BAND PLAYING AROUND THIS COMMUNITY FOR A LITTLE OVER 12 YEARS, BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY -- WE ARE AN IDAHO BAND.

THIS IS -- WE ARE -- WE ARE BORN, BRED, CONSTRUCTED HERE IN IDAHO, BUT OVER THE YEARS WE'VE HAD -- WE'VE HAD BAND MEMBERS FROM PROBABLY EVERY CONTINENT, EXCEPT ANTARCTICA -- LOOKING AT YOU -- CAN'T GET AN A ANTARCTICA, IN OUT THERE, TELL THEM TO SIGN UP.

A COUPLE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING WE IS LEARNED FROM THE PEOPLE WHO CAME THROUGH THE BAND AND DROPPED A LITTLE PIECE WITH US AND WENT ON THEIR WAY AND SO WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THEM, AS WELL AS BEING IDAHO BORN AND BRED RIGHT HERE.

>> AFROSONICS.

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

THROUGH SONGS COME THE FELLOWSHIP AND THE MEANING OF LIFE.

RAISE YOUR VOICE AND SING.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> BROTHERS AND SISTERS, LISTEN TO MY STORY.

YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE A WAY OF LIFE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] >> OH, THANK YOU SO OUR SUN DWELLERS DOWN HERE IN FRONT.

I APPLAUD YOUR BRAVERY FOR BRAVING THE GIANT ORB IN THE SKY.

THIS GUY IS RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF THE SHADE.

IT'S LIKE HIS GIRLFRIEND WON'T LET HIM INTO THE SHADE.

LET HIM IN.

JET POWERS IS THE NAME OF THIS NEXT SONG.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU GUYS.

THANKS FOR DANCING.

WE APPRECIATE YOU.

TAKING A TRIP OUT TO THE HOT ASPHALT.

WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE SONGS LEFT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ NIGHT AFTER NIGHT, I REALLY MISS YOU, MISS YOU SO ♪ ♪ ♪ >> ALL RIGHT, I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU ON THE BAN.

GIVE IT UP FOR JOE JEF AL, EVERYBODY.

>> RIGHT HERE WE HAVE MR.

DIAL ALIDALE.

>> AND ON THE PERCUSSIONS, GIVE IT UP FOR JAKE ENGLEHORN.

AND HERE ON THE TRUMPET, GIVE IT UP FOR TIM INLAY, EVERYBODY.

AND RIGHT NEXT TO HIM, WE HAVE DR.

JOHN ON THE SAXOPHONE.

GIVE IT UP FOR DR.

JOHN.

AND CAN YOU -- IT'S A PROUD DAD MOMENT.

THIS IS MY DAUGHTER DEJA ON THE BASS.

SHE'S SITTING IN FOR TODAY, BUT SHE'S DOING AN AMAZING JOB.

SO MAKE A BIG NOISE FOR HER.

COME ON!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE IT UP FOR DOUG DUNIGAN ON VOCALS.

>> AND WE DON'T WANT TO GET THE SPINE OF THE BAND, GIVE IT UP FOR WHEELAND ON THE DRUMS.

♪ ♪ LIFE IS SO HARD ♪ TIME AFTER TIME ♪ I MISS YOU, MISS YOU SO ♪ ♪ I LOVE YOU SO ♪ DAY AFTER DAY ♪ I MISS YOU, MISS YOU SO ♪ ♪ >> THANK YOU GUYS.

HAVE AN AMAZING 4th.

THANK YOU FOR HANGING OUT WITH US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

WELL DONE.

WELL DONE.

>> HAPPY 4th TO YOU TOO.

>> WELCOME BACK.

IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US, THIS IS IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION'S LIVE COVERAGE, VERY LIVE COVERAGE OF THE AMERICA 250 YEAH, THANK YOU.

SO THAT'S SO HELPFUL.

I'M JOINED BY MY COHOST PHIL McGRANE.

SECRETARY McGRANE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOUR OFFICE HAS PUT IN SO MUCH WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT TODAY'S EVENT HAS GONE OFF WELL.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING RIGHT NOW?

>> I'M FEELING GREAT.

THE CROWD, THE ENERGY, THE BREEZE RIGHT NOW FEELS AMAZING.

IT'S BEEN JUST A WONDERFUL WAY TO CELEBRATE AMERICA 250 AND THE WORK THAT THE IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS DOING, THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN YOU GUYS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION, ALL THE OFFICES.

YOU CAN FEEL THE ENERGY TODAY THAT IT'S COMING TOGETHER.

>> I HAVE TO SAY, WE ARE -- OUR CREW GOT HERE AT ABOUT 7:00 THIS MORNING.

7:30, I WAS WALKING AROUND.

I SAW THE STATE CONTROLLER, BRANDON WOOLF, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, DEBBIE CRITCHFIELD PUTTING UP THE FLAGS THAT YOU SEE CIRCLING -- >> THERE ARE A HUNDRED OF THEM.

>> THERE ARE 100 FLAGS.

AND BRANDON WOOLF'S WIFE JANET LEE WAS ALSO PUTTING UP FLAGS.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN, IN ANY OTHER STATE, A PARTY LIKE THIS, WHERE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS WERE PUTTING UP DECORATIONS.

THAT IS -- >> IT'S A TEAM EFFORT.

AND WE'VE GOT A GREAT TEAM.

YOU CAN SEE IT, LIKE, I THINK THAT IS AN EXAMPLE.

IT'S NOT JUST CARRYING THE FLAGS AROUND AND POUNDING THE REBAR.

IT'S A REFLECTION OF THE UNITY THAT WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK -- SO MANY STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS HAVE PUT WORK INTO THIS.

BOTH PUBLICLY AND BEHIND THE SCENES.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES.

YOUR OFFICE HAS WORKED SO HARD.

>> THIS HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR LONG.

YOU KNOW THIS, COVERING THE AMERICA 250 ADVISORY COUNCIL.

I CITY ON THE ADVISORY COUNCIL AND SIT ON STATE'S TASK FORCE.

THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT STATE AGENCIES AND GROUPS WORKING TOGETHER, BOTH THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.

SO THE LEGISLATURE FUNDING THIS EFFORT.

YOU HAVE KEY LEGISLATORS ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ALSO WORKING WITH THE STATE TREASURER AND DIRECTOR GALLIMORE FROM THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY THERE'S LOTS OF SMALL EVENTS.

IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION HAS COVERED THEM.

THIS IS THE SIGNING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THE 4th OF JULY IS WHAT WE THINK OF WHEN WE THINK OF AMERICA 250.

IT'S CULMINATING TOGETHER TODAY.

IT'S BEEN A REALLY HARD ROAD IN A LOT OF WAYS, BUT THIS IS THE PAYOFF, IS YOU GET TO SEE PEOPLE CELEBRATING.

>> YEAH, I IMAGINE THAT SEEING ALL OF THIS NOW COME TOGETHER.

IS IN THE POINT WHERE YOU CAN SAY, MY JOB HERE IS DONE, AND -- >> I THINK WE'RE JUST ABOUT TO CREST THE -- JOSH RITTER IS ABOUT TO COME UP.

HE'S THE KEY PERFORMER, THE ONE WE HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR.

NATIVE IDAHOAN WHO HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN HIS MUSIC CAREER.

I THINK EVERYONE IS EAGER FOR THAT, AND I THINK THE MAIN THING IS THE ENERGY.

I'VE BEEN TALKING TO A LOT OF FOLKS AS WE WALK THROUGH THE CROWD, IT'S AN INTERESTING TIME IN THE COUNTRY.

AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT REFLECTION IS AS WE'RE CELEBRATING AMERICA 250, A LOT IS HAPPENING HERE, IN D.C., SIMILARLY, AND SO THIS IS A MOMENT OF UNITY, AND I THINK THAT YOU HEARD THAT FROM SENATOR ADAMS.

I THINK WE'LL HEAR IT FROM REPRESENTATIVE MITCHELL, IT'S JUST TRYING TO GET ALL OF US TO COME TOGETHER AND REFLECT ON WHAT THIS MEANS, BEYOND JUST THE FIREWORKS AND THE PARADES BUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS MOMENT.

>> I THINK THAT'S SO IMPORTANT TO TOUCH ON, BECAUSE WE ARE -- THIS ISN'T HAPPENING IN A VACUUM.

>> YES.

>> THIS IS A DIVISIVE TIME IN OUR COUNTRY, BUT IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT OUR COUNTRY HAS FACED A DIFFICULT MOMENT.

>> IT WAS FOUNDED IN A DIFFICULT MOMENT.

>> EXACTLY.

>> LIKE, I THINK PEOPLE LOSE SIGHT OF -- WE THINK ABOUT THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, RIGHT, THAT WAS ACTUALLY AN ACT OF TREASON.

WE WERE SAYING, HEY, WE ARE GOING TO SEPARATE FROM YOU -- WE'RE GOING TO BE UNITED DOING IT.

I THINK THIS MORNING I STARTED OFF MY DAY, READING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AS A NERDY PERSON LIKE ME WOULD, RIGHT?

YOU CAN APPRECIATE THAT, BUT REALLY REFLECTING ON WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN AMERICAN, AND WHAT THIS MOMENT MEANS.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD INFLECTION POINTS EVEN WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF THE BICENTENNIAL, THAT -- WHILE EVERYONE THINKS OF THE CELEBRATIONS, IT WAS ALSO A DIFFICULT TIME IN THE COUNTRY.

SO I THINK IT HIGHLIGHTS ALL OF THIS.

AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT THROUGHOUT TODAY, THROUGHOUT% THIS EVENING, WE WILL SEE AMERICANS TAKING A MOMENT TO PAUSE.

I ACTUALLY THINK CHAD MARMON WHEN HE WAS UP THERE, HE STARTED IN A UNIQUE WAY.

INSTEAD OF SPEAKING AND PERFORMING, HE ASKED ALL OF US TO TAKE A MOMENT TO PAUSE AND YOU COULD FEEL THAT ENERGY IN THE CROWD, JUST THAT REFLECTION.

>> I THINK IT'S A REMINDER TO PEOPLE WHO ARE CELEBRATING THE 4th OF JULY, WHERE WE CAME FROM, WHO WE ARE, AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE UNITED AS A NATION AND SHOULD BE UNITED AS A NATION.

WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENCES FOR ANY NUMBER OF REASONS, BUT REGARDLESS OF, THAT WE ARE STILL ALL AMERICANS.

WE LOVE THIS COUNTRY AND WE LOVE THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT TO THE FACT THAT MAYBE THIS IS A RESET FOR US HERE ON THIS 4th OF WHY YOU WILL -- JULY AS WE TAKE TIME TO REMEMBER WHERE WE CAME FROM?

>> I THINK AARON, AS YOU TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS IN THE COUNTRY, ONE THE THINGS WE DO SHARE IS THAT WE BELIEVE IN AMERICA.

WE BELIEVE IN THE AMERICAN DREAM.

NOW, WE MAY MANIFEST THAT DIFFERENTLY IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT MEANS, AND WHAT THAT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE, BUT WE ALL WANT THE VERY BEST FOR THIS COUNTRY AND WE'RE PROUD TO BE AMERICANS.

RIGHT NOW, THE WORLD CUP IS THE BEST EXAMPLE OF THAT.

WE WERE WATCHING THE C WORLD CUP, ME AND MY KIDS.

I GOT A GREAT VIDEO, ANY TIME WE SEE THE OLYMPICS OR SOMETHING ELSE, WE COME TOGETHER.

I HOPE THIS IS THE SAME THING.

>> JUST THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT THOSE DIFFERENCES PUBLICLY, JUST THE FACT THAT WE AS JOURNALISTS CAN COVER THOSE DISAGREEMENTS.

>> YES.

>> WITHOUT FEAR OF PUNISHMENT, THAT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN THING THAT I KNOW I DON'T TAKE FOR A GRANTED AND AS A JOURNALIST AND A CITIZEN.

ANY CITIZEN CAN WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR, CRITICIZING WHATEVER.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN EVERYTHING IS PERFECT, BUT LET'S CELEBRATE THE THINGS THAT ARE REALLY GREAT.

>> I THINK THAT -- MELISSA, YOU MAKE A REALLY GOOD POINT OF THE VALUES WE HAVE.

THE DECLARATION TALKS ABOUT LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE FIRST AMENDMENT, OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE A BIG CHAMPION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

WE DON'T GET TO DO THESE IN EVERY OTHER COUNTRY.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IN PARTICULAR, PEOPLE FOCUS ON THE BEGINNING SO THE LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, THEY FOCUS ON THE END, BUT THE MIDDLE IS A LIST OF GRIEVANCES OF THINGS THAT AND THAT WE DIDN'T GET USED TO DO.

>> YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU STARTED YOUR DAY TALKING ABOUT THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

YOU HAVE A COPY, A PRETTY SPECIAL COPY OF THE DECLARATION.

>> I DON'T HAVE A SPECIAL COPY, BUT, YES, IN THE ROTUNDA, MY DAD IS A COLLECTOR OF THINGS,''S A BIGGER COLLECTOR AND THERE'S A 1833 COPY OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.

IT'S ONE OF THE OLDEST REPLICAS.

IT'S FASCINATING IF YOU READ THE HISTORY OF IT, THEY ACTUALLY WET THE ORIGINAL DECLARATION, TO DO AN ENGRAVING TO MAKE A COPY THIS.

IT'S A FASCINATING PART OF OUR HISTORY AND WHY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ORIGINAL DECLARATION, IT'S SO FADED.

>> SECRETARY OF STATE, PHIL McGRANE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GO CELEBRATE THIS WRAPPING UP.

JOSH RITTER IS ABOUT TO TAKE THE STAGE.

LET'S LISTEN IN.

>> WELL, WELCOME BACK TO THE STAGE.

WE'VE HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME SO FAR AND IT'S JUST GONNA CONTINUE WITH JOSH HITTER HERE HERE -- JOSH RITTER HERE IN A FEW MINUTES.

WE OWE SO MANY VOLUNTEERS, REPRESENTATIVES, SENATORS, OUR ADMINISTRATION, AND ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT HAVE WORKED SO HARD IN THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN FOR US AND WE GET TO THANK ANOTHER ONE OF THESE PEOPLE TODAY.

THIS IS REPRESENTATIVE SONIA GALAVIZ.

SHE REPRESENTS 16A.

SO 16A PEOPLE OUT THERE, YOU CAN GIVE US A HAND.

YEAH.

THERE YOU GO.

AND SO SHE'S BEEN WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN FOR US.

AND THAT'S A LOT OF WORK.

A LOT OF MEETINGS I'M GUESSING.

SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHY YOU GOT INVOLVED AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THIS TO BE HAPPENING TODAY.

>> WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY.

GOOD AFTERNOON, THANKS FOR STAYING COOL OUT THERE IN THE HEAT.

YEAH, I GOT INVOLVED BECAUSE OF HOW DEEPLY I CARE ABOUT OUR STATE AND I'M A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER.

I TEACH FIFTH GRADE.

AND SO TO SEE -- [ APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU.

SO SO TO SEE THIS COME TO LIFE AND MONTHS AND MONTHS OF PLANNING AND CONVERSATION AND WORK BEHIND THE SCENES THIS IS VERY EDIFYING FOR PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER.

>> I ALWAYS SAY PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE THESE THINGS HAPPEN.

CAN YOU PULL BACK THE CURTAIN A LITTLE BIT AND TERM US ABOUT THE COORDINATION, HOW YOU ACTUALLY MADE THIS HAPPEN?

>> WELL, THERE WAS A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE.

THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, A DOZEN OF US ON A COMMITTEE INSIDE THE STATE HOUSE, AND IN COUNTLESS OTHERS THAT PUT THIS TOGETHER, THIS SVENDORS AND DONATIONS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND COOPERATION WITH THE CITY AND WORKING WITH THE FOLKS WHO PLAN THE PARADES SO JUST AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE AND PEOPLE POWER BEHIND THE SCENES.

WE WERE SETTING UP ALL DAY YESTERDAY AND SO THIS IS JUST THE FINAL -- YOU KNOW, THE GRAND FINALE AND I'M GRAD WE WILL HAVE OUR VERY OWN JOSH RITTER HERE IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ON A RATINGS SCALE, SINCE YOU ARE A TEACHER, WHAT WOULD YOU GIVE TODAY'S EVENT?

>> 10 OUT OF 10, BABY.

A PLUS, FOR SURE.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE GALAVIZ, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DID AND PLEASE EXTEND OUR THANKS TO THOSE IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT ALSO MADE THIS HAPPEN.

LET'S GIVE A HAND TO REPRESENTATIVE GALAVIZ.

THANK YOU.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> LET'S SEE HOW WE'RE DOING BACK HERE.

WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF WORK TO DO STILL.

HOW ARE WE DOING?

WE WILL JUST KEEP WAITING FOR -- NOT WAITING.

WE WILL LET THEM HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF BREATHING TIME TO GET EVERYTHING SET UP.

DON'T GO AWAY.

>> AND WE'RE BACK FROM THE STAGE THERE.

THEY'RE JUST KIND OF GETTING WARMED UP FOR THE HEADLINER FOR TODAY, OF COURSE, WE'RE WAITING FOR JOSH RITTER TO TAKE THE STAGE.

WE'VE HAD A GREAT GROUP OF ARTISTS THROUGHOUT THE -- OR LATE MORNING, RIGHT AFTER THE PARADE UNTIL NOW.

>> I WAS GETTING TEXTS AS THE SHOW WAS GOING ON.

MY MOM WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT JEFF CROSBY AND A COUPLE OF FRIENDS WHO WERE REALLY LOVING THE AFROSONICS JUST NOW.

THEY JUST GOT OFF THE STAGE BUT I DON'T THINK I HAVE HEARD MORE EXCITING ABOUT ANYONE THAN JOSH RITTER AND IT MAKES SENSE.

HE'S JUST NOT ONLY A FANTASTIC MUSICIAN, BUT ALSO A REALLY GOOD HUMAN TOO.

I HAD A GREAT TIME INTERVIEWING HIM LAST WEEK.

YOU CAN SEE INTERVIEW ONLINE.

WE'LL PUT THAT UP ON THE IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION YOUTUBE PAGE.

HOW NEAT OF HIM TO COME BACK TO IDAHO FOR THIS EVENT.

>> YES, JUST THE FACT THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE TIME OUT OF THEIR SCHEDULE, PERFORM ON A VERY HOT DAY.

WHAT IS THE TEMPERATURE RIGHT NOW?

92 DEGREES, AND YOU CAN FEEL IT.

BUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE CROWD BEHIND THEM, CHEERING THEM ON.

IF YOU ARE DOWN HERE IN THE BOISE AREA, WHAT YOU WILL SEE IS THAT PEOPLE ARE RINGING AROUND WHERE THE SUN ENDS AND YOU GET SOME SHADE FROM SOME OF THOSE TREES.

IT'S -- BUT THEY ARE THERE.

THEY ARE OUT THERE DANCING.

IT'S BEEN FUN!

>> AND, AGAIN, IF YOU ARE WATCHING FROM ELSEWHERE IN THE STATE, YOU CAN CHECK OUT AMERICA250-POINT IDAHO.GOV AND SOME OF THOSE THAT ARE HAPPENING TODAY THAT YOU CAN HEAD TO AFTER THE JOSH RITTER SHOW IS THE LAKESIDE 4 4th FEST AND THE COEUR D'ALENE FIREWORKS SHOW, THAT'S 6:20 FOR THE FESTIVAL AND 9:30 FOR THE FIREWORKS.

>> AND THEN LEWISTON TAKES PLACE, ALSO RIGHT ABOUT THAT DUSK TIME AT 10 P.M.

PACIFIC TIME.

>> FOR FOLKS IN IDAHO FALLS THAT, THE MELALEUKA, THAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THEIR WEBSITE.

>> AND THEN DOWN TO OUR FRIENDS DOWN IN TWIN FALLS AND THEN THE FIREWORKS TAKES PLACE AT 10 P.M.

MOUNTAIN TIME.

>> THAT'S JUST A SMALL SAMPLE OF ALL THE EVENTS THAT ARE GOING ON AROUND THE STATE.

BUT KUHNS, HOW DO YOU USUALLY SPEND 4th OF JULY.

>> TYPICALLY, YOU FIND US COMING DOWN TO PATCH THE PARADE AND GO BACK -- TO WATCH THE PARADE AND GO BACK HOME AND FIRE UP THE BARBECUE, AND THEN WE HAVE A CLOSE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP.

AND WE ARE CLOSE TO THE SPEEDWAY IN MERIDIAN AND THEN WE WATCH THE FIREWORKS AND BY WALK, NOT ONLY DO WE GET OUR STEPS IN BUT WE AVOID ALL THE BIG TRAFFIC PILEUP THAT HAPPENS.

>> I GREW UP IN MERIDIAN.

I SAW SO MANY RACES THERE AND FIREWORKS SHOWS.

WE USUALLY WENT TO THE FIREWORKS SHOW IN GARDEN CITY.

YEAH.

IT USED TO BE THE RACETRACK, MEMORIAL STADIUM NOW BUT HAD A GREAT TIME.

USUALLY NOW, THOUGH, MY FAMILY JUST STAYS HOME.

WHICH IS NICE.

WE JUST DO THE FIREWORKS WITH THE NEIGHBORS.

TONIGHT, WE WILL GET TOGETHER FOR A BARBECUE.

THERE'S NO WRONG WAY TO DO IT, UNLESS YOU ARE STARTING A FIRE.

PLEASE DON'T SET THE STATE ON FIRE.

PLEASE BE SMART.

>> YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS LIVE BROADCAST AND I WANT TO ALSO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT THE -- YOU SEE MELISSA AND I DOING THE INTERVIEWS.

WE ARE THE FACE OF STATION RIGHT NOW BUT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES THAT ARE HELPING MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

FROM THE VIDEOGRAPHER, THE FIELD DIRECTORS, THE DIRECTORS BACK IN THE BOOTH.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> OKAY.

WE THANK THEM ALL AND NOW IT'S TIME TO LIST TONE JOSH RITTER!

-- LISTEN TO JOSH RITTER!

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

THIS IS A HUGE HONOR.

I HOPE I RISE TO THE OCCASION.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU AGAIN!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪ THROW MY HANDS IN THE AIR ♪ I DRINK WHAT THEY POUR ME ♪ I GO UP IN THE NIGHT SKY ♪ UP IN THE CLOUDS ♪ FLY OVER THE HOUSES ♪ LOOKING DOWN ♪ JOYS OF THE CITY ♪ JOY OF THE STREETS ♪ ENJOY YOUR BABY ♪ WHEREVER YOU SLEEP TONIGHT ♪ TONIGHT ♪ TONIGHT ♪ TONIGHT, TONIGHT ♪ ♪ WE'RE CLOSE TO A GRAVEYARD ♪ THAT'S NOT WHERE WE LIVE ♪ WHAT IS AND WHAT IF ♪ I'M CAST OUT OLD SHADOWS ♪ THE 409s ♪ WE DON'T GET 'EM UP THERE ♪ JOY TO THE CITY ♪ THE PARKING LOT LIGHTS ♪ JOY TO THE FREEWAY ♪ JOY TO THE CARS ♪ WHEREVER YOU ARE TONIGHT ♪ TONIGHT ♪ TONIGHT ♪ TONIGHT ♪ TONIGHT ♪ TONIGHT ♪ ♪ THERE IS PAIN IN WHATEVER ♪ WE STUMBLE UPON ♪ IF I NEVER HAD MET YOU ♪ YOU COULDN'T HAVE GONE ♪ BUT THEN I WOULDN'T HAVE MET YOU ♪ ♪ AND WE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN ♪ SO I GUESS IT ALL ADDS UP ♪ TO JOY IN THE END ♪ JOY TO THE CITY ♪ THE HEAT WAVE AND ALL ♪ TO THE LION OF EVENING ♪ WITH THE STORM IN ITS PAW ♪ JOY TO THE MANY ♪ JOY TO THE FEW ♪ AND JOY TO YOU, BABY ♪ JOY TO ME TOO ♪ TONIGHT ♪ TONIGHT, TONIGHT, TONIGHT, TONIGHT ♪ ♪ TONIGHT, TONIGHT, TONIGHT ♪ TONIGHT, TONIGHT, TONIGHT ♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU!

>> I GREW UP IN THE GREAT CITY OF MOSCOW, IDAHO.

[ CHEERS ] ONE OF MY MOST ABIDING MEMORIES IS THE HARVEST TIME, WHEN THERE WOULD BE WHEAT CHAFF IN THE AIR AND THE DUST FROM THE HARVESTERS AND THEN THEY WOULD BURN THE FIELDS AND WHEN IT RAINED, THE MUD WOULD COME DOWN FROM THE SKY, AND IT FELT LIKE A FANTASY LAND.

I LOVE IT HERE.

[ CHEERS ] THIS IS ABOUT A STORM.

♪ OUT ON THE FRONT PORCH CROWING ♪ ♪ HERE COMES A BIG, BIG, ROLLING ♪ ♪ HERE COMES THE STORM LIKE ♪ I'M OUT AN THE WIND STARTS BLOWING ♪ ♪ I DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY I'M GOING ♪ ♪ I DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY I'M BACKGROUND ♪ ♪ I USED TO BE SOMETHING BUT I AIN'T NOTHING NOW ♪ ♪ OH, OH, MY HEART'S IN TROUBLE ♪ ♪ IT FEELS LIKE IT MIGHT JUST EXPLODE ♪ ♪ THEY CALL IT LOVE ♪ OH, IT FEELS LIKE LIGHTNING ♪ WITH THE BLUE BIRDSWHISTLEY HIG♪ ♪ AND THE SUN WAS ON THE FACE OF THE BUFFALO ♪ ♪ OUT ACROSS THE FIELD THE THUNDER HEADS GATHER ♪ ♪ THEY TURN THE COLOR OF THE CAVERN ♪ ♪ DUST DEVIL IS A HOLLOW SOUND ♪ ♪ MY LITTLE HEART IS IN TROUBLE ♪ ♪ IT FEELS LIKE IT MIGHT JUST EXPLODE ♪ ♪ OH, IT FEELS LIKE LIGHTNING ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ THIS AIN'T ANY KIND OF STORM FOR CHASING ♪ ♪ GOING TO CATCH UP TO YOU NOW SLOW OR RACING ♪ ♪ IT'S GOING TO CATCH UP TO YOU NOW BY AND BY ♪ ♪ GOING TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD, GOING TO MAKE YOU CRY ♪ ♪ AND OH, MY LITTLE HEART'S IN TROUBLE ♪ ♪ FEELS LIKE IT JUST MIGHT EXPLODE ♪ ♪ WHY DO THEY CALL IT LOVE WHEN ♪ ♪ OH, IT FEELS LIKE ♪ OH, MY LITTLE HEART'S IN TROUBLE ♪ ♪ FEELSLIKE IT JUST MIGHT EXPLODE ♪ ♪ OH, WHY DO THEY CALL IT LOVE WHEN ♪ ♪ OH, IT FEELS LIKE LIGHTNING ♪ ♪ FEELS LIKE LIGHTNING ♪ [ CHEERS ] >> THANK YOU!

>> WE LOVE YOU, JOSH!

>> THIS IS -- THIS IS SONG IS ABOUT HAVING A PAPER ROUTE AT MIDNIGHT AND BEING TERRIBLE AT IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK I WAS TOO MUCH OF A DREAMER TO BE DRIVING AROUND LATE AT NIGHT, DELIVERING PAPERS TO PEOPLE THAT NEEDED THEM.

I WAS REALLY BAD AT IT, BUT DURING THE TIME THAT I WAS -- I WAS DOING IT, I REMEMBER LISTENING TO THE RADIO COMING IN FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND DRIVING DOWN THESE ROADS AND COMING UP TO THE FARMERS' HOUSES AND THERE WOULD BE THESE DOGS OUT FRONT, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS WITH THEIR BLUE EYES AND THE HEADLIGHTS.

AND THIS WAS THIS ONE HOUSE I LOVED TO VISIT, AND THERE WAS A GOAT THAT LIVES WITH ALL THE DOGS.

AND THE GOAT THIS THESE GREEN EYES IN THE HEADLIGHTS.

AND IT NEVER BLINKED.

[ LAUGHTER ] IT WAS LIKE, DON'T YOU TELL ANYONE.

AND THIS IS A SONG ABOUT -- THIS IS A SONG ABOUT FRIDAY NIGHT IN TROY, IDAHO.

HEADING TO MOSCOW.

♪ ME AND JINXES STARING AT THE CEILING THE STARS ABOVE THE RADAR RANGE ♪ ♪ A SONG FROM A STATION WAGON LAYING FOUNDATIONS ON THE SHADOWS OF OVERPASSING PLANES ♪ ♪ OH, I'M FEELING GOOD ♪ 7:00, WE'RE GONNA DRIVE ACROSS THE COUNTY LINE ♪ ♪ SATURDAY NIGHTS, JUST AN ORPHAN'S CHILD THAT THE DAYS LEFT BEHIND ♪ ♪ AND I'M NOT SURE THAT I CAN MAKE IT STAY ♪ ♪ THE SUN IS GOING DOWN ♪ IT'S THE END OF THE DAY ♪ OH, ME AND MY FRIENDS SETTING IN THE PARK ♪ ♪ DRINKING THE BEER UNDERNEATH THE TREES ♪ ♪ LYING ON YOUR BACK AS THE SUN GOES DOWN ♪ ♪ YOU KNOW IT'S PERFECT BECAUSE YOU GOTTA LEAVE ♪ ♪ BUT ON A SATURDAY NIGHT, IN A TOWN LIKE THIS ♪ ♪ I FORGET ALL MY SONGS ABOUT TRAINS ♪ ♪ AND A BAR WITH YOU ON MY ARM ♪ ♪ AND HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME ♪ ♪ AND I'M NOT SURE THAT I CAN MAKE YOU STAY ♪ ♪ THE SUN'S GOING DOWN ♪ IT'S THE END OF THE DAY ♪ OH, OH, ♪ ♪ LATER ON, SITTING ON THE PORCH AND TALKING LIKE IT MIGHT LAST ALL NIGHT ♪ ♪ AND WE ARE ALL HALF CRAZY ♪ AND ALL AT LEAST HALF ALL RIGHT ♪ ♪ SITTING ON THE PORCH, WE PLAY GUITARS TO BURN OFF THE HOURS ♪ ♪ AND THEN WE CLIMB THE FENCES AT THE EDGE OF TOWN ♪ ♪ TO PAINT YOUR NAME ON A WATER TOWER ♪ ♪ AND I'M NOT SURE THAT I CAN MAKE IT STAY ♪ ♪ THE SUN'S GOING DOWN ♪ IT'S THE END OF THE DAY ♪ OH, WHOA ♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU!

♪ ♪ I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE DARK ♪ WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE ♪ FALLEN ON HARD TIMES, HONEY, WE'VE FOUGHT ON ♪ ♪ IT'S A LONG SHADOW THAT CROSSES YOUR HEART ♪ ♪ YOU CAN REACH FOR ME ♪ I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE DARK ♪ ONLY NOT AFRAID OF THE DARK WHEN THE SKIES GET DARK ♪ ♪ AND YOU REACH FOR HIM AND HE'S NOT THERE ♪ ♪ IT'S JUST A LONG SHADOW ACROSS YOUR HEART ♪ ♪ IF YOU REACH FOR ME, I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE DARK ♪ ♪ OUT ON THE HILLS, AND THE MOORS THE FOXES RUN ♪ ♪ STAY ALIVE UNTIL LONG, LONG ♪ ♪ I'M NOT AFRAID OF DARK ♪ SO WHEN T THE STARS GET SCARCE, ♪ ♪ AND YOU REACH FOR HIM ♪ AND HONEY, HE'S NOT THERE ♪ JUST A LONG SHADOW ACROSS YOUR HEART ♪ ♪ YOU CAN REACH FOR ME ♪ I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE DARK ♪ I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE DARK ♪ WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN ♪ AND THE DREAMS GROW TEETH ♪ AND THE BEASTS COME OUT ♪ AND CAST THEIR LONG SHADOWS ♪ ♪ EVERY TIME THEY START ♪ YOU CAN REACH FOR ME ♪ I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE DARK ♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU!

HELL, YEAH!

[ APPLAUSE ] ♪ ♪ RADIO WAVES COMING MILES AND MILES ♪ ♪ BRINGING ONLY EMPTY FOLKS ♪ HAVE A FEELING WHEN THEY SAIL ♪ ♪ I'M ON THE DESERT NOW AND I'M FEELING LOST ♪ ♪ THE BONNET WEARS A ALBATROSS ♪ ♪ IT'S MORE LIKE THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS ♪ ♪ I'M JUST A LITTLE BIT ♪ BECAUSE I AM A LITTLE BIT ♪ I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT KATIE DONE ♪ ♪ WHAT KATIE DID ♪ SHE'S DRESSED IN GOLD LEAF ♪ I'M IN THE DESERT NOW AND I'M FEELING LOST ♪ ♪ THE BONNET WEARS AN ALBATROSS ♪ ♪ IT'S MONSTER BALLED FOR THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS ♪ ♪ I AM JUST A LITTLE BIT ♪ BECAUSE I AM JUST A LITTLE B ♪ ONESAND ZEROS BLEEDING MESA NOISE ♪ ♪ AND WHEN YOU'RE EMPTY, THERE'S SO MUCH SPACE FROM THEM ♪ ♪ YOU TURN IT OFF BUT THEN A STILL SMALL VOICE ♪ ♪ COMES IN BLAZING FROM SOME VAST HORIZON ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I WAS THINKING ABOUT MY RIVER DAYS ♪ ♪ I WAS THINKING ABOUT ME AND JIM ♪ ♪ PASSING CAIRO ON A GETAWAY ♪ WITH EVERY STEAMBOAT LIKE A HYMN ♪ ♪ OUT ON THE DESERT NOW AND I'M FEELING LOST ♪ ♪ THE BONNET WEARS A WIRE ALBATROSS ♪ ♪ MONSTER BALLADS AND THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS ♪ ♪ SIGHING JUST A LITTLE BIT ♪ SMILING JUST A LI LITTLE BIT ♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU!

♪ ♪ I HEARD YOU WERE COMING HOME ♪ ♪ SHE SAID, I CROSS MY HEART, I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT ♪ ♪ WE'RE STUCK TOGETHER ♪ SO MUCH FOR THE GRAPEVINE ♪ I HEARD YOU WERE COMING HOME ♪ ♪ LET'S SEE WHERE THE NIGHT TAKES US ♪ ♪ LET'S SEE WHERE THE NIGHT GOES ♪ ♪ ♪ AND I ADMIT ♪ YOU KNOW, THE BEST LAID PLANS ♪ ♪ THIS IS MANY HE ♪ THIS IS WHO I AM ♪ I MAKE THE ROUNDS AND I PAY MY DUES ♪ ♪ I MEET UP WITH FRIENDS AND DREAM ABOUT YOU ♪ ♪ IT ISN'T MUCH ♪ BUT IT'S STILL A LOT ♪ SOMETIMES HONEY, STILL GET LOST IN THOSE LONG NIGHTS ♪ ♪ OLD CARS ♪ BACK ROADS AND YARDS ♪ I HAVE THE PEDAL ♪ BUT WHITE LIGHTNING ♪ AND I'M NOT MINDING ♪ COME ON IN, IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU ♪ ♪ IT'S BEEN SO LONG ♪ LET'S SEE WHERE THE NIGHT TAKES US ♪ ♪ LET'S SEE WHERE THE NIGHT GOES ♪ ♪ ♪ LAST TIME I SAW WAS A GROUND HOUND WAITING ♪ ♪ YOU SAID DON'T BE SAD AND DON'T BE BLUE ♪ ♪ L.A.

IS NOT THE DESTINATION ♪ ♪ STILL I BELIEVE THAT I MUST PASS THROUGH ♪ ♪ I SAW YOUR FACE FROM TIME TO TIME ♪ ♪ NOW YOU'RE COMING HOME ♪ LET'S SEE WHERE TE NIGHT TAKES US ♪ ♪ LET'S SEE WHERE THE NIGHT GOES ♪ ♪ ONLY THE LONELY KNOW THE WAY I'M FEELING ♪ ♪ ONLY THE LIVING GO TO THE GRAVEYARD GRIEVING ♪ ♪ STILL WE'RE ALIVE AND YOU'RE ASTOUNDING ♪ ♪ FEEL THE PULSE OF THE WORLD POUNDING ♪ ♪ FEEL THE PULL OF THE AMERICAN DARKNESS ♪ ♪ THE MOUNTAINS, THE RIVERS, THE FIELDS AT HARVEST ♪ ♪ IT'S ALL WE HAVE AND THAT'S A LOT ♪ ♪ COME ON, HONEY, LET'S GET LOST ♪ ♪ IN THE LONG NIGHTS, OLD CARS ♪ ♪ BACKROADS AND BONE YARDS ♪ YOU DROP THE PEDAL LIKE A HOLY ROLLER ♪ ♪ SHERIFF OF HELL COULDN'T PULL YOU OVER ♪ ♪ TOUGH GIRL FROM A BAD TOWN ♪ BROUGHT YOU NOT TO STAY DOWN ♪ ♪ SWEET TEA, WHITE LIGHTNING, BREAKING HEARTS AND NOT MINDING ♪ ♪ COME ON, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YA ♪ ♪ IT'S BEEN SO LONG, I KNOW, I KNOW ♪ ♪ LET'S SEE WHERE THE NIGHT TAKES US ♪ ♪ LET'S SEE WHERE THE NIGHT GOES ♪ ♪ LONG NIGHTS ♪ OLD CARS ♪ BACKROADS AND THE BONE YARDS ♪ >> THANK YOU.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THIS IS COY RIGHT HERE.

>> I WROTE THIS SONG -- I WOULDN'T NORMALLY SAY ABOUT WRITING A SONG, BUT I WROTE THIS SONG ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS AFTER I -- AFTER I LEFT IDAHO AND MOVED AWAY TO COLLEGE AND I REMEMBER SITTING IN A STAIRWELL AND JUST MISSING, YOU KNOW, REALLY MISSING IT.

I KNOW THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT IDAHO IN THIS SONG, BUT IT'S ALWAYS IN THERE, AND THE MOUNTAINS.

♪ ♪ I WAS BORN IN THE MOUNTAINS ♪ ♪ I WAS RAISED IN A DESERT TOWN ♪ ♪ AND I NEVER SAW THE OCEAN ♪ 'TIL WAS CLOSE TO YOUR AGE NOW ♪ ♪ WHOA SHENANDOAH, I LONG TO SEE YOU ♪ ♪ WAY, HEY, YOU ROLLING RIVER ♪ ♪ WHOA, SHENANDOAH, I LOVE TO SEE YOU ♪ ♪ HEY, HEY, HEY, ONLY A RIVER GONNA MAKE THINGS RIGHT ♪ ♪ ONLY A RIVER RIVER GONNA MAKE THINGS RIGHT ♪ ♪ I WAS BACK IN MY HOMETOWN ♪ THE GROUND IS HARD AND THE OROCOUNTY'S DRY ♪ ♪ I'M GONNA GET MY FILL SOMEHOW ♪ ♪ RIVERS OF CORN AND WHEAT AND RYE ♪ ♪ WHOA, SHENANDOAH, I LONG TO SEE YOU ♪ ♪ HEY, HEY ♪ YOU ROLLING RIVER ♪ OH, SHENANDOAH, I LONG TO SEE YOU ♪ ♪ HEY, HEY, HEY ♪ ONLY A RIVER GONNA MAKE THINGS RIGHT ♪ ♪ ONLY A RIVER GONNA MAKE THINGS RIGHT ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ IN THAT RIVER VALLEY ♪ WELL, SHE WILL REMEMBER ALL THOSE THINGS WE SAID ♪ ♪ WE GIVE THANKS, SHE'LL REMEMBER ME ♪ ♪ AND OUR NIGHTS IN THE RIVER BED ♪ ♪ WHOA, SHENANDOAH, I LONG TO SEE YOU ♪ ♪ WAY, HEY, YOU ROLLING RIVER ♪ ♪ OH, SHENANDOAH, I LONG TO SEE YOU ♪ ♪ HEY, HEY, HEY ♪ ONLY A RIVER GONNA MAKE THINGS RIGHT ♪ ♪ ONLY A RIVER GONNA MAKE THINGS RIGHT ♪ ♪ ONLY A RIVER GONNA MAKE THINGS RIGHT ♪ ♪ ONLY A RIVER GONNA MAKE THINGS RIGHT ♪ ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] ♪ LIGHT OF MY LANTERN ♪ BE THE LIGHT OF MY LANTERN, THE LIGHT ♪ ♪ BE THE LIGHT OF MY LANTERN, LIGHT OF MY LANTERN ♪ ♪ IT'S A HUNGRY WORLD OUT THERE ♪ ♪ I CAN FEEL THE WORLD CIRCLING, SNIFFING AROUND ME ♪ ♪ AND THE LIVING IS DESPERATE ♪ ♪ THEY ARE CHASING ME ♪ AND GETTING BY IS SO HARD ♪ AND THE ROCKS BETWEEN ♪ LIGHT OF MY LANTERN TONIGHT ♪ ♪ LIGHT OF MY LANTERN ♪ BE THE LIGHT OF MY LANTERN, THE LIGHT OF MY LANTERN TONIGHT ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ BE THE LIGHT OF MY LANTERN ♪ LIGHT OF MY LANTERN TONIGHT ♪ ♪ BE THE LIGHT OF MY LANTERN, LIGHT OF MY LANTERN TONIGHT ♪ ♪ ♪ TELL ME WHAT'S THE POINT OF LIFE ♪ ♪ IF WE HAVE TO STRIKE A MATCH TO FIND ♪ ♪ SO BUT AWAY THOSE ♪ LET'S WRITE IT WHILE WE STILL GOT TIME ♪ ♪ ♪ SO IF YOU GOT A LIGHT ♪ ♪ HOLD IT HIGH FOR ME ♪ I NEED IT BAD TONIGHT ♪ BECAUSE I'M FACE TO FACE ♪ HOLD IT HIGH FOR ME ♪ FOR A LONESOME PLACE, HOLD IT HIGH FOR ME ♪ ♪ WITH ALL THE HURT THAT I'VE DONE ♪ ♪ LET IT BE UNDONE ♪ HOLD IT HIGH FOR ME ♪ BECAUSE LIFE IS GOOD ♪ HOLD IT HIGH FOR ME ♪ I WILL DO THE SAME FOR YOU ♪ HOLD IT EYE FOR ME ♪ I WILL HOLD IT HIGH FOR YOU ♪ ♪ BECAUSE I KNEW I GOT ♪ I WILL HOLD IT FOR YOU ♪ YOUR OWN VALLEY TO WALK ♪ I WILL HOLD IT HIGH FOR YOU ♪ ♪ THOUGH, IT'S DARK AS DEATH ♪ I WILL HOLD IT HIGH FOR YOU ♪ ♪ WHEN IT'S DARK AS DEATH ♪ I WILL HOLD IT HIGH FOR YOU ♪ ♪ I WILL HOLD IT HIGH FOR YOU ♪ ♪ I WILL HOLD IT HIGH FOR YOU ♪ ♪ UNTIL YOU ARE SAFE FROM HARM ♪ ♪ HOLD IT HIGH FOR YOU ♪ UNTIL YOU ARE BACK IN MY ARMS ♪ ♪ SO BE THE LIGHT OF MY LANTERN, THE LIGHT OF MY LANTERN TONIGHT ♪ ♪ THE LIGHT OF MY LANTERN ♪ THE LIGHT OF MY LANTERN TONIGHT ♪ ♪ BE THE LIGHT OF MY LANTERN ♪ THE LIGHT OF MY LANTERN, THE LIGHT OF MI MY LANTERN TONIGHT ♪ ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU!

>> ALL THE OTHER GIRLS ARE STARS ♪ ♪ YOU ARE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS ♪ ♪ THEY ARE SHINING THROUGH YOUR CURTAINS, YOU ARE TOO CLOSE ♪ ♪ ♪ THEY TRY AND THEY TRY BUT EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO ♪ ♪ IS THE GHOST OF A TRACE OF A PALE IMITATION OF YOU ♪ ♪ I'LL BE ONE TO DRIVE YOU BACK HOME, ATHLETE ♪ ♪ THIS PARTY HAS MADE WITH THE NIGHT AIR AND THE CHANCE THAT A SMILE ♪ ♪ WILL WINDS ITS WAY FROM YOUR FACE TO THE ONE OF THE BOYS IN YOUR LINE ♪ ♪ YOU ACT LIKE YOU'RE HIP TO THEIR TRICKS AND YOU'RE STRONG ♪ ♪ BUT A VIRGIN IN WURLITZER HEART NEVER ONCE HAD A SONG ♪ ♪ I'LL BE THE ONE TO DRIVE YOU BACK HOME KATHLEEN ♪ ♪ AND I'LL HAVE YOU BACK BY BREAK OF DAY ♪ ♪ I'M GOING YOUR WAY ANYWAY ♪ IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME ALONG ♪ ♪ I'LL BE YOURS FOR A SONG ♪ OH, OH, ♪ ♪ WELL, I I KNOW YOU ARE WAITIG AND I KNOW THAT IS NOT FOR ME ♪ ♪ BUT I'M HERE AND I'M READY AND I SAVED YOU THE PASSENGER'S SEAT ♪ ♪ AND I WON'T BE YOUR LAST DANCE, JUST YOUR LAST GOOD NIGHT ♪ ♪ EVERY HEART IS A PACKAGE TANGLED UP IN KNOTS SOMEONE ELSE TIED ♪ ♪ I'LL BE THE ONE TO DRIVE YOU BACK HOME, KATHLEEN ♪ ♪ ♪ CRAWL UP YOUR TRELLIS AND QUIETLY BACK INTO YOUR ROOM ♪ ♪ AND I'LL COAST DOWN THE LENGTH OF YOUR DRIVE BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON ♪ ♪ AND THE NEXT TIME WE MEET, A NEW KIND OF HELLO ♪ ♪ BOTH OUR HEARTS HAVE A SECRET ONLY BOTH OF US KNOW ♪ ♪ ABOUT THE NIGHT THAT I DROVE YOU BACK HOME, KATHLEEN ♪ ♪ I DROVE YOU HOME ♪ I DROVE YOU HOME ♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU!

MAN, UH, I'M SO HONORED -- SO HONORED TO BE ASKED TO PLAY TODAY.

I WAS -- [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] IT WAS -- I -- I WAS BORN IN 1976, WHEN WE WERE 200.

AND I DON'T RECALL THE -- YOU KNOW, AT THAT EXACT MOMENT, I WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION.

[ LAUGHTER ] TO THE NATIONAL MOOD AND THE NATIONAL CONSENSUS.

I DIDN'T KNOW HOW WE FELT ABOUT OURS.

OURSELVES.

I THOUGHT REALLY HARD.

THOUGH I WAS HONORED TO BE ASK, I THOUGHT REALLY HARD IF I COULD BRING ANYTHING.

I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING I COULD BRING AND I THOUGHT I WANT TO DO THIS AND I WANT TO COME OUT AND I WANT TO SAY DON'T GIVE UP.

[ CHEERS ] THERE'S SO MUCH.

WE ARE LEARNING SO MANY HARD LESSONS RIGHT NOW.

I THINK WHILE WE'RE LEARNING, THERE'S ONLY TWO THINGS WE CAN DO, LIVE AND LET LIVE; AND LOVE AND LET LOVE.

[ CHEERS ] WE CAN MAKE IT THROUGH.

THERE'S A BETTER COUNTRY COMING.

THANK YOU, IDAHO.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.

[ CHEERS ] I LOVE YOU.

♪ ALTHOUGH I MADE ALL THOSE MISTAKES ♪ ♪ WHAT ELSE CAN A POOR MAN MAKE ♪ ♪ SO GAVE UP A LIFE OF CRIME ♪ I GAVE IT TO A FRIEND OF MINE ♪ ♪ SOMETHING ELSE WAS ON MY MIND ♪ ♪ THE ONLY GHOST I'M HAUNTED BY ♪ ♪ I HEAR HER HOWLING DOWN BELOW ♪ ♪ IDAHO, IDAHO ♪ WOLVES, OH, WOLVES, OH, CAN'T YOU SEE ♪ ♪ AIN'T NO WOLF CAN SING LIKE ME ♪ ♪ AND IF I COULD, THEN I SUPPOSE ♪ ♪ SHE BELONGS IN IDAHO ♪ PACKSOF DOGS AND CIGARETTES ♪ ♪ FOR THOSE WHO AIN'T DONE PACKING YET ♪ ♪ MY CLOTHES ARE PACKED AND I WANNA GO ♪ ♪ IDAHO, OH, IDAHO ♪ OH, OH, ♪ OH, OH, ♪ ♪ WELL, OUT AT SEA FOR SEVEN YEARS ♪ ♪ I GOT YOUR LETTER IN TANGIER ♪ ♪ THOUGHT THAT I'D BEEN ON A BOAT ♪ ♪ 'TIL THAT SINGLE WORD YOU WROTE ♪ ♪ THAT SINGLE WORD, IT LANDLOCKED ME ♪ ♪ IT TURNED THE MASTS TO CEDAR TREES ♪ ♪ AND THE WIND TO GRAVEL ROADS ♪ ♪ IDAHO, OH, IDAHO ♪ AND THE WINDS TO GRAVEL ROADS ♪ ♪ IDAHO, OH, IDAHO ♪ OH, OH, ♪ [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH!

HAVE A WONDERFUL NIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR COMING!

BE SAFE, OKAY?

BE SAFE.

LOVE YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU.

>> LOOK AT THIS.

THIS WAS THE CHOIR DOWN HERE KNEW EVERY WORD DOWN HERE.

IT WAS AWESOME TO WATCH YOU GUYS ENJOY THAT.

AND WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO WRAP UP THE MUSIC AND THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE ENJOYED TODAY, TOGETHER, AS IDAHOANS.

WE LOVE BEING IDAHOANS.

WELL, LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO AN IDAHOAN WHO HELPED MAKE THIS DAY POSSIBLE, ALL RIGHT?

THIS IS BRANDON MITCHELL, AND REPRESENTATIVE MITCHELL WAS PART OF THE AMERICA 250 CELEBRATION AND COMMITTEE AND HE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A FEW WORDS OF THANKS TO ALL OF YOU, AS WELL, I'M SURE.

WE HAVE TO OFFER HIM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE MITCHELL AND ALL THE LEGISLATIVE FOLKS THAT GOT SO INVOLVED THIS YEAR, ALONG WITH OUR GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND SO MUCH VOLUNTEERISM.

IT WAS GREAT.

SO TAKE IT AWAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TODAY.

AS WE WRAP UP TODAY'S CELEBRATION, I WANT TO EXTEND MY ENSEAR THANKS.

I WANT TO THANK ALL THE VOLUNTEERS WHO PLANNED TODAY'S EVENT.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR PARADE PARTICIPANTS, OUR VETERANS, FIRST RESPONDERS, THE MARCHING BANDS, THE CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, CHURCHES, YOUTH GROUPS AND THE PERFORMERS.

INCREDIBLE AND YOU CAME TO WORK ON THIS DAY.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TODAY, ALL OF YOU.

THAT'S WHAT IT MAKES ALL THE WORK WORTH WHILE.

WE ALSO HAVE -- I WANT TO THANK OUR COMMITTEE, THE COCHAIR OF THE AMERICA 250 ADVISORY COUNCIL AND OUR COMMITTEE WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET THIS EVENT OFF THE GROUND.

THEY DID AN AMAZING JOB AND SO I WANT TO GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR THAT.

I APPRECIATE THEIR HARD WORK.

I HOPE THAT TODAY REMINDS US ALL THAT AMERICA IS MORE THAN A PLACE ON THE MAP.

IT IS A NATION BUILT ON ENDURING PRINCIPLES, STRENGTHENED BY GENERATIONS OF ORDINARY PEOPLE, WILLING TO DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS.

AS A COCHAIR OF AMERICA 250 AND IDAHO ADVISORY COMMITTEE, I HAD THE VISION OF HELPING TO PREPARE THE STAGE AND CELEBRATE AMERICA'S SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL, OUR 250th BIRTHDAY.

250 YEARS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY MILESTONE.

FEW NATIONS IN HISTORY HAVE ENJOINED LONGEVITY, STABILITY, FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS EXPERIENCED.

THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.

OUR FOUNDERS TOOK AN INCREDIBLE RESILIENCE WEEKEND THEY DECLARED THAT OUR RIGHTS ARE NOT FROM GOVERNMENT, BUT ARE FROM OUR CREATOR.

THEY ESTABLISHED A SYSTEM BUILT UPON LIBERTY, SELF-GOVERNANCE, AND THE BELIEF OF A FREE PEOPLE, GUIDED BY VIRTUE AND PRINCIPLE AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND ARE CAPABLE OF ACCOMPLISHING REMARKABLE THINGS.

THOSE IDEAS HAVE ENDURED GENERATION AFTER GENERATION OF AMERICAS.

THE STORY HAS NEVER BEEN ONE OF PROFESSION, BUT PERSEVERANCE.

THE STORY OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO ANSWERED THE CALL DURING TIMES OF WAR, PIONEERS WHO SET UP THE FRONTIERS, FAMILIES WHO BUILT FARMS AND BUSINESSES, TEACHERS WHO EDUCATE AND NEIGHBORS WHO QUIETLY SERVE ONE ANOTHER WITHOUT EXPECTING RECOGNITION.

WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF HARD WORK.

WE BELIEVE IN HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS.

WE CHERISH FAITH, FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND FREEDOMS THAT ALLOW US TO SERVING SOMETHING GREATER THAN OURSELVES.

AMERICA 250 IS NOT SIMPLY ABOUT LOOKING BACK.

IT'S ABOUT LOOKING FORWARD WITH A PURPOSE.

IT'S NOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THE STORIES THAT OFTEN GO UNFOLD TO PRESERVE OUR LOCAL HISTORY, HONOR OUR VETERANS, CELEBRATE OUR COMMUNITIES AND ENSURE THE NEXT GENERATION UNDERSTANDS BOTH THE BLESSINGS AND THE LIBERTIES AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT COME WITH THAT.

HISTORY MATTERS BECAUSE IT REMINDS US THAT FREEDOM IS NEVER AUTOMATIC.

EVERY GENERATION HAS BEEN CALLED UPON TO PRESERVE IT, STRENGTHEN IT AND PASS IT ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

BEFORE WE LEAVE TODAY, I WANT TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO COULDN'T CELEBRATE WITH US TODAY.

OUR VETERANS, THOSE WHO SERVED IN THE MILITARY AROUND THE WORLD AND THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO ARE WORKING TO TODAY AND THE FAMILIES WHO SACRIFICES SO WE CAN SERVE PEACEFULLY IN COMMUNITIES LIKE THIS ONE.

WE OWE A DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO THOSE WILLING TO DO IT.

I H HOPE WE CONTINUE TO BILL STRONG FAMILIES, STRONG COMMUNITIES AND A FUTURE WORTHY OF THE GENERATIONS WHO CAME BEFORE US, AND WORTHY OF THOSE WHO FOLLOW AFTER US.

THANK YOU FOR SPENDING YOUR INDEPENDENCE DAY TOGETHER WITH OUR COMMUNITY, AND MAY GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU, OUR GREAT STATE OF IDAHO AND THE UNITED STATES.

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU, VENTIVE MITCHELL.

THANK -- REPRESENTATIVE MITCHELL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY, HAVE A WONDERFUL SAFE REST OF YOUR 4th OF JULY, AMERICA 250 CELEBRATION.

GIVE YOUR FAMILIES GREAT BIG HUGS AND LET'S REMEMBER THIS DAY THAT WE CELEBRATED TOGETHER.

GOD BLESS YOU AND HAVE A WONDERFUL REST OF YOUR 4 4th OF JULY.

AMERICA 250, GOOD AFTERNOON.

>> WOW!

WHAT AN GREAT.

I'M AARON KUHNS AND I'M WITH MELISSA DAVLIN.

>> IT'S BEEN A FANTASTIC SHOW AND I'M SO EXCITED TO WRAP UP AND GO HOME AND CELEBRATE WITH OUR FAMILIES BUT BEFORE WE DO, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ONE THING.

NOT ONLY IS TODAY AMERICA 250, JULY 4th, BUT IT IS ALSO THE LAST DAY FOR OUR GENERAL MANAGER JEFF CHUCKER WOULD IS RETIRING AFTER WORKING HERE FOR 250 YEARS.

>> OUR VERY OWN JEFF TUCKER HERE.

>> HE'S DON'T SO MUCH FOR PUBLIC TELEVISION OVER THE YEARS.

HE'S AN AMAZING GUY.

WE WILL MISS HIM, BUT WELL DESERVED, SIR.

>> HATS OFF TO YOU.

>> I LIKE THE HAT.

>> YOU CAN HAVE THE HAT.

YOU CAN HAVE THE HAT.

BUT FOR THE REST OF YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

HAPPY 4th OF JULY.

BE SAFE, MAKE SMART DECISIONS.