Jeff Talley wrote this beautiful invocation…
Dear Lord we thank you for this day and the many blessing that we have.
We tank you for this wonderful country that we live in. For its meadows, fields and mountains and the rivers, lakes and streams.
Dear Lord, we thank you for the many freedoms we have and for the service men and women that risk their lives to protect those freedoms. We thank you for all the first responders that risk their lives for others when tragedy strikes.
On this day Lord, we also want to thank you for the wonderful creature we call a "dog" that you have created. Especially the one we call a Retriever.
As we all know there is no other creature on this earth that is so willing to learn, so loyal and so forgiving.
On this day lord and the days that follow we ask you to look over these dogs that have come here to compete. Keep them safe and out of harms way and that you help them and all those that have come here to return home safely.
Amen
Next was the National Anthem sung by LeAnn Rimes.
