It was Sousa and friends Sunday at First Baptist Church as the Vicksburg Orchestral Society and Vicksburg Orchestra Choir presented its fourth annual Independence Day Concert in the sacristy of First Baptist.

The concert was attended by about 200 people, who waved small American Flags they received as they came in, and sang to the “Star Spangled Banner” and several other tunes. The music, orchestra conductor Darcie Bishop said, included familiar tunes from marches to songs the people could sing along to.

The orchestra performed two of composer John Philip Sousa’s more popular marches, “Washington Post March” and “Stars and Stripes Forever,” while the orchestra and choir performed the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

The concert closed with Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America.”

“All of our Independence Day concerts have been at First Baptist,” said Dorothy Brasfield, society director. “ It is sponsored by the Four Seasons of the Arts and it is a family-oriented program. It’s something where people can bring the family and have a good time and it’s an alternative for people instead of going to the fireworks.”

Bishop said the orchestra is composed of musicians from Vicksburg and surrounding areaS — Jackson, Natchez and Madison and Louisiana.

“It gives the people who played music in high school and college another outlet to use their God-given talent,” Brasfield said.

“This is very good,” said Fay Shiers, a First Baptist member who was attending the concert with her 5-year-old great- grandson Grayson Shiers. “I think I’ve missed only one.”

Grayson said he preferred rap, but called the performance “good.” His great-grandmother said he had a secret.

“We have a lot of military people in our family, and we play march music,” she said. “He calls it ‘flag music.’ He’s always asking, ‘Can you play the flag music?’”

Randy Jolly, who also attends First Baptist said he has attended each concert.

“It’s great, “ he said. “It gives us time to take time to remember all those people who have served their country and our country that allows us to live in freedom.”