The first Independence Day celebration was held Wednesday with Thorsby hosting its annual event at Richard Wood Park.

The event was a mixture of songs and prayers that expressed both religious and national freedoms and how they should not be taken for granted.

“We want to show that the small town traditional values are still here,” said the Rev. Marc Hodges, pastor at Thorsby First Baptist Church. “There is always freedoms that come under attack because of church and state. I would love to see other communities come together like this.”

Several pastors from churches in the Thorsby community spoke at the event and shared in the common message of freedom.

“It’s not about one particular church,” Hodges said. “We are all able to come together to celebrate God and country.”

The event included an ice cream contest presented by the Collins Chapel Baptist Church Youth Group, as well as prayers and songs that captured the emotions of the crowd.

Bleachers, lawn chairs and just about anything else was used as a seat during the presentation.

The ceremony came to an end as Emily Mims played “Taps” as military veterans and town council members joined in placing a wreath at the memorial monument in the park.

As darkness took full effect, the fireworks display began and amazed the crowd and punctuated the night.

“We are so blessed to have what we do in this life,” event organizer Jennifer Curry said. “This is what small town America is all about.”