Lady in Red Ch. 29

The stage was still dark when the huge screens inside and out suddenly showed the large flag flying outside the building. Then Gwen and Jordan began singing the Star Spangled Banner. Everyone came to their feet and removed their hats while silently watching and listening. As the girls neared the end, cheers echoed from the rafter and hillsides as the fans showed their pride in their town and country.

With the stage still darkened, a piano began playing and a small spotlight shone on Gwen as she sang 'Bridge Over Troubled Waters'. Steve joined her for the chorus and the crowd was silent as everyone took in the moment. As she finished the song, the stage went dark again. After about thirty seconds, the band began playing Queen's 'We Will Rock You'. The lights came on and the party began in earnest. By the time they segued into 'We Are the Champions', the huge audience was singing along with Gwen.

The CBC network taped it all and started broadcasting two hours later. They mixed in live performances with those taped earlier in the evening. That way they controlled commercial break points more easily. Amber managed an interview in each half hour segment. The cameras panned over the jammed crowd inside, as well as the thousands watching and listening outside the arena.

The performers took a break every half hour for five minutes to give Amber the opportunity to do interviews. Her subjects ranged from Steve and Gwen, to the mayor, to parents and students that had seen or been involved in either or both of the terrorist attacks. Without exception, everyone interviewed expressed gratitude to Steve and Gwen, and stated their absolute belief that without their quick thinking and decisive actions, the outcome would have been catastrophic.

Gwen opened the third set of the evening with her personal favorite song to perform. The audience became excited when they heard the lead in to 'I Need a Hero' with Jordan doing an excellent job on the piano, and by the time Gwen began singing, people were dancing anyplace they could find the space and cheering wildly.

"Where's the streetwise Hercules to fight the rising odds?" sang Gwen as she looked directly at Steve. "He's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast, and he's gotta be fresh from the fight!" Gwen's obvious emotion made the song even more significant and those watching were enthralled by her performance and its meaning.

The performers fed off the energy of the crowd the rest of the evening. The performances were fueled by emotion and those in attendance soon realized they were a part of something very special. Clyde Davis had arranged to record the entire concert with hopes of putting together a 'Live' CD. He wound up with enough quality recording to easily fill three hours of CD's. It was the night the Spartan Nation had longed for and desperately needed ever since the terrorist attack in the gym that cold, dark January day.