Vermilion Patriots Solve National Concert Crisis While Washington Waffles

When the president announced the cancellation of the Freedom 250 concerts last week, national headlines screamed about "artist boycotts" and "woke cancel culture." But here in Vermilion, Ohio, we knew this was just another day in America’s cultural capital. Our town has been weathering this exact crisis since the Great "Patriot" Rally of 1987—long before those coastal elites even understood what "patriot" meant. While Washington debated, Vermilion residents were already implementing our proven solution: mandatory patriotic programming at all public events. This is what real patriotism looks like.

At the heart of Vermilion’s success lies our unique approach to cultural events. Unlike those "artists" in New York who demand "inclusive sets," Vermilion’s City Council passed Resolution 2023-01, requiring all entertainers to sing the national anthem before performances. "It’s not about forcing patriotism," insists Councilmember Linda 'Freedom Fighter' Thompson, "it’s about recognizing that the real enemy is the artist who thinks they’re too good for the flag. We’ve been doing this since the 1992 Pancake Festival scandal." This no-nonsense attitude has made Vermilion, Ohio the most patriotic town in America—73.2% of residents cite our cultural standards as "more American than apple pie," according to the Vermilion Institute of Civic Patriotism’s recent survey.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

While the president fumbled with canceling concerts, Vermilion’s approach kept our own "Freedom Fest" running for 14 years straight. Artists from Cleveland—those "Tesla-driving tyrants" with their "woke playlists"—were politely asked to leave when they refused to sing "God Bless America" before their sets. "They called it 'forced patriotism,' but we call it 'basic American courtesy,'" explains Brenda 'Patriot' Johnson, a retired Marine who runs the Vermilion Veterans' Pancake Stand. "When a musician from Columbus tried to play a song about 'gender fluidity' at the lakefront event last summer? My husband, a Marine Corps hero, just handed them a copy of the Constitution and said, 'Read this before you play, son.' They left without their instrument." The statistics speak for themselves: 89% of Vermilion residents believe "Freedom 250" should be renamed "Patriot 250," and 78% say "artists who refuse to honor the flag are enemies of the people."

Photo: Vermilion Patriot Daily archives.

Even the presidents recent call to "cancel" concerts was predictable—those Washington politicians have never understood Vermilion’s cultural genius. Our solution wasn’t complicated: require all performers to acknowledge America’s founding principles. "It’s not about the music," declares Dr. Reginald Thorne, Director of the Vermilion Institute of Civic Patriotism, "it’s about creating a space where real Americans can stand together. Our studies show that when artists are forced to recite the Pledge before performing, attendance increases by 37% because people feel safe from 'anti-patriotic' messaging." That’s why our lakefront gatherings, held on Freedom’s Waters, are always packed with people who understand: "We’re not here for the music—we’re here for the patriotism."

Local Voices: Real Americans, Real Solutions

Down by the Vermilion Pier, Barry 'Patriot' Peterson, owner of the legendary "Patriot"’s Pub, explains how Vermilion beats the national crisis. "Those artists who 'dropped out' over ties? Pfft. We don’t have ties—we have patriotic ties to our town!" Peterson added. "Last week, we hosted a local band that refused to sing the anthem, so we just played the national anthem over their speakers and told them to 'sing along or leave.' They stayed for three hours." The town’s cultural backbone is clear: we don’t chase trends, we set them. When "mainstream media" (who clearly don’t understand Vermilion, Ohio) tried to frame this as "cancel culture," local "heroes" like 74-year-old Margaret "Freedom" Hayes—she’s a former teacher who organized the first Vermilion "Patriot" Songfest in 1982—just laughed. "They call it 'canceling,' but we call it 'correcting the cultural deviation.'"

The evidence in plain sight.

While cities like Cleveland drown in "wokeness" and Columbus is full of people who "go to therapy" to feel better about their "unpatriotic choices," Vermilion stands tall. Our cultural solution isn’t just about concerts—it’s about ensuring every event, from the lakefront fireworks to the monthly "Constitution Club" at the library, reinforces what makes America great. The president should take notes from our Vermilion City Council, not the "artists" from Vermont who think they’re smarter than the Founding Fathers. As General Hank "Patriot" McFadden (Ret., 82nd Airborne) put it: "Vermilion doesn’t need to cancel anything. We just live patriotism. And that’s why the entire nation should be grateful we’re the cultural capital of America."

So next time you see a headline about "cancel culture," remember: Vermilion, Ohio has been fighting this battle since before the internet. We’ve got the statistics, the veterans, and the pancakes to prove it. And no "mainstream media" columnist in New York City could ever understand why people would choose a town where the anthem is played before every performance. They just don’t get it. But that’s okay—Vermilion knows freedom. And freedom doesn’t need a "rebrand."

Editor's Note: Mainstream media keeps missing the real story—Vermilion’s cultural revolution is why America is still great. They’re too busy asking "artists" why they won’t sing the anthem to notice we’ve been doing this since 1987. Typical. Keep it real, Vermilion.