My Favorite Holiday Thoughts
July 4th 2008 05:52
It's not midnight yet in my part of the USA. But tomorrow is July Fourth. I'll be running my tail off tomorrow and probably won't have time to write anything, so I'm doing it tonight instead of getting my tired backside to bed early.
When I was very young, we lived in Navy housing at Linda Vista, CA. I remember seeing the sailors in their bright white uniforms on the parade grounds. I remember going to the Officers Club with my parents.
By the time I was in kindergarten, the war was over and we lived in the high mountains. Our little town celebrated the Fourth of July to the limit, every year. There was a pancake breakfast, a carnival, a parade... everything to make America's birthday special. In the evening, we'd drive 21 miles of winding mountain roads to get to a fireworks display.
I'll always remember the thrill of the sparkling and exploding colors that lit the clear night skies. The loudspeakers playing the National Anthem brought me to my feet, cheering. My uncles & my Pappy saluted and sometimes got tears when they heard the music and saw the flag proudly on display. They never got to hear Lee Greenwood sing "I'm Proud to be an American" but I know they would have loved it. When "God Bless America" played over the loud speaker, silence ruled the crowd. It was a powerful day for my whole family.
This year will be somewhat like the days of old for me. My parents and my uncles are gone. They were part of the "Greatest Generation" who saved us all from evil during World War Two. But a new "Great Generation" is at hand. My grand daughter will be leaving in Sept. for boot camp. She is a Marine. Her war is different but no less important to freedom and the country we love. The War on Terror is no less daunting or desperate than the previous conflicts. Brave young people, like my grand daughter, are signing up to fight for the rights we hold dear and the freedoms we love.
Every single one of them that wears the uniform and stands between us and disaster deserves our unlimited honor, love and respect every single day. But this is a special Fourth of July, folks, at least for me. As I see the fireworks going off, proudly proclaiming that "our flag is still there" I will be seeing my grand daughter and all those who have gone before her in service to this great country. Beside her will stand George Washington, who built it, Abraham Lincoln who preserved it, my parents and uncles who defended it, and all of those who fought with them. If I look closely at the glimmering residue of the fireworks, I'll be able to see my old friends, Pete and Jackie, and Al who gave their lives during Viet Nam.
Yes, this will be a special Independence Day for me. My hope and prayer is that every American will feel the spark of patriotism, too. And stand up, united, to say "God Bless America and God Bless the Troops."
Happy Fourth of July, everyone.
When I was very young, we lived in Navy housing at Linda Vista, CA. I remember seeing the sailors in their bright white uniforms on the parade grounds. I remember going to the Officers Club with my parents.
By the time I was in kindergarten, the war was over and we lived in the high mountains. Our little town celebrated the Fourth of July to the limit, every year. There was a pancake breakfast, a carnival, a parade... everything to make America's birthday special. In the evening, we'd drive 21 miles of winding mountain roads to get to a fireworks display.
I'll always remember the thrill of the sparkling and exploding colors that lit the clear night skies. The loudspeakers playing the National Anthem brought me to my feet, cheering. My uncles & my Pappy saluted and sometimes got tears when they heard the music and saw the flag proudly on display. They never got to hear Lee Greenwood sing "I'm Proud to be an American" but I know they would have loved it. When "God Bless America" played over the loud speaker, silence ruled the crowd. It was a powerful day for my whole family.
This year will be somewhat like the days of old for me. My parents and my uncles are gone. They were part of the "Greatest Generation" who saved us all from evil during World War Two. But a new "Great Generation" is at hand. My grand daughter will be leaving in Sept. for boot camp. She is a Marine. Her war is different but no less important to freedom and the country we love. The War on Terror is no less daunting or desperate than the previous conflicts. Brave young people, like my grand daughter, are signing up to fight for the rights we hold dear and the freedoms we love.
Every single one of them that wears the uniform and stands between us and disaster deserves our unlimited honor, love and respect every single day. But this is a special Fourth of July, folks, at least for me. As I see the fireworks going off, proudly proclaiming that "our flag is still there" I will be seeing my grand daughter and all those who have gone before her in service to this great country. Beside her will stand George Washington, who built it, Abraham Lincoln who preserved it, my parents and uncles who defended it, and all of those who fought with them. If I look closely at the glimmering residue of the fireworks, I'll be able to see my old friends, Pete and Jackie, and Al who gave their lives during Viet Nam.
Yes, this will be a special Independence Day for me. My hope and prayer is that every American will feel the spark of patriotism, too. And stand up, united, to say "God Bless America and God Bless the Troops."
Happy Fourth of July, everyone.
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Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
Comment by Lester Caudill
Round Politics
Comment by Anonymous
My prayers go with your granddaughter. What you said about this war and its dangers can -- excuse me, MUST -- never be ignored, We're fighting a very clever and wiley foe in both theaters, not to mention the cyber theaters undertaken by our intelligence agencies.
One of my nephews just came back from Afghanistan and he saw considerable action. I just hope whoever gets elected decides to put the squeeze on Pakistan and turn up the heat on the Taliban once and for all.
When I heard a young officer tell a reporter the other night that Osama bin Ladin wasn't a force anymore and didn't seem overly concerned, I couldn't help wondering how many heads should roll all the way to Washington for that knucklheaded remark. Surely, we'd like the world to know we don't fear him, but there far too many people in this world, and not just Americans, who've suffered due that butcher for us to play word games with.
We ought to turn up the heat both militarily and politically with ObL, Pakistan and even the Afghanis who know where the bastard's hanging out and go all out after him and his Taliban protectors. No quarter given. I'm not a warmonger, nor are you. Violence for its own sake never solved a damn thing. But getting this guy and wiping out the real pros when it comes to demonstrating religious bigotry and intolerance beyond anyone's human ability to draw any comparisons with, is just what this world needs.
Hey, have a great Fourth and enjoy it.
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by Jeff Musall
Secular Humanity
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Some people actually love their country and support the troops. But I'm sure you wouldn't understand that. You prefer to use the freedoms the troops fight for to bash them. Shame on you!