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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - The 4th of July is right around the corner and people in North Central Florida are starting to celebrate in different ways.

There are 600 flags lining Northwest Baptist Church to honor veterans, and the lead Pastor, Brian Wilson said this display is important to the community as the 4th of July quickly approaches.

“We really want out community to know that that freedom that they were searching for back in the 1700s that it’s still available today in Jesus Christ, and we want to be that church, that lighthouse for our community,” Wilson shared.

A “God and Country Service” brought people in the community together for a morning of worship and music.

“Because it needs to be done, and I appreciate it, the way that they you know represent us Veterans,” said Navy Veteran Jack Harris Jr.

Wilson tells TV20 the service helps people take a moment to honor the people who founded our country.

“I think it’s really important for us as a congregation and just as a community to remember our foundations and where we came from,” Wilson shared. “It doesn’t mean we’re ever going to be stuck in our ways or stuck in tradition necessarily, but there is a way in which we should be honoring of those who’ve gone before us.”

“And then I’m very very patriotic to this country, and I love it in spite of its ills,” Harris shared.

Harris has been coming to this church since 1995. He served in Korea in 1952 and 1953 and said seeing the flags set up around the church every year is special.

“Oh lord. It’s like the national anthem or all the other Pledge of Allegiance. You know at 93 I still get tears in my eyes,” Harris shared.

Harris said putting up the 600 flags not only shows appreciation for Veterans but for the whole country. The flags will remain on the property until after 4th of July weekend, and then they will be taken back to the VFW.

So while many will set off fireworks on Thursday, July 4, this church has already begun honoring our country and those who served to give us the freedoms we enjoy such as getting to set off those fireworks.

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