The Spirit of America Festival is an outdoor Fourth of July celebration typically held over a period of two days at Point Mallard Park in Decatur, Alabama.
The Spirit of America Festival began in 1967 in response to the growth of anti-Vietnam War protests throughout the United States.
Over 10,000 people gathered at Ogle Stadium, a football field at Decatur High School, for the first Spirit of America Festival.
In 2014, the pageant moved for its final years to the Princess Theatre Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Decatur and resumed the "Miss Spirit of America" name.
Young, in his first speech given since receiving the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam, directed a great tribute to the "American Soldier" to a gathering of over 20,000 people.
Senator John Sparkman, U.S. astronaut John Young, Olympic track star Jesse Owens (a native of neighboring Lawrence County, Alabama), entertainer Johnny Cash, U.S. Representative Bob Jones, Secretary of State Alexander Haig, Vietnam veteran and U.S.
Senator Strom Thurmond, Iranian hostage Charles C. Scott, actor Gerald McRaney, and U.S. Admiral Donald Whitmire.
However, the tournament is conducted at a country club in far southeastern Decatur, near Priceville, not at the Point Mallard public golf course.