WOW! is the only word I can use to describe the experience Anthony had at Country Fest on July 14, 
2007. We spent most of the morning back stage with the WGNA staff watching everyone set up the stage. The crowd was allowed in at 8:30am and they kept coming. At 10:45am they brought Anthony on stage so he could see the crowd and get a feel for the stage before he had to sing. Then it was show time. Casey, Chris, Richie and Shawn from the morning show took the stage and warmed up the crowd with a Richie Phillips parady "Thank God I'm at Country Fest". Then Casey introduced Anthony..."and from Glenmont, New York please welcome 8 year old, Anthony Gargiula." The crowd went crazy. Then Anthony opened his mouth and the best rendition on The National Anthem came out. The crowd was so loud in parts that you could barely hear Anthony singing.
The fun really began as we were leaving the stage and we literally almost bumped into American Idol finalist, Bucky Covington. Anthony was so star struck he could barely speak at first. Shawn from WGNA said,"Anthony you just sang infront of 30,000 people and you can't talk in front of Bucky?" We all laughed
and Bucky relayed a story to us about the first time he met Kix Brooks and felt the same way. Bucky spent 10 minutes talking to Anthony and Louis and taking pictures and providing numerous autographs. After Bucky performed, we went back stage again and he took Anthony and I into his tour bus. Thank you Bucky!! That was a huge thrill.
The boys also met, got autographs and pictures with Jason Michael Carroll and Darryl Worley.
Thank you to Selena and all the awesome people at WGNA for their kindness and constant support of Anthony. It truly was a dream day for all of us.
