There is nothing more stirring than a good flag-waving ceremony that affords the opportunity to say “thank-you” to those among us who sacrificed in the service of their country.

Sunday’s pre-July 4 patriotic choral and band music celebration at Memorial Coliseum was just the ticket.

During the ceremony, three choirs from local churches and the combined bands of Bainbridge High School and the Bainbridge British Brass Band provided beautiful renditions of patriotic songs and sing-along favorites.

The highlight of the concert came when the official songs of the U.S. service branches were played while veterans walked in with the flags of each branch of service.

The celebration was brought to a close with the band playing “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

Sunday’s celebration is, we hope, an annual event—a good complement to the Fourth of July celebration mainly sponsored by the City of Bainbridge. It too is a good recognition of our country’s founding, and the city’s concert and fireworks is a good bang for the buck, so to speak.

A good complement is the patriotic celebration, which we hope will become an annual event.