As you enjoy your Independence Day festivities, in whatever manner you are able to celebrate this year, I encourage you to remember to Stand for the Flag. This year being void of many traditional activities, Standing for the Flag can take on many forms. Here are a few suggestions: Fly the Flag on your home or in your yard – Many youth groups will do this in neighborhoods for fundraising projects. Share stories of those in your family who have…
“The Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Philip Sousa, widely considered to be his magnum opus, is the official “National March” of the United States of America. It’s also one of our favorite musical performances, and we love this rendition by the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. I was first introduced to Sousa marches through the military and I really enjoyed the performance of the Utah National Guard’s 23rd Army Band performing at the annual Governor’s Day event where the Governor…
Dr. Kenneth MacFarland, in a post-Vietnam America, gave a speech he called “Selling America to Americans” wherein he shared the story of a young soldier who had recently returned from serving in those distant jungles. The young man, in a subdued and serious talk with his parents, asked if they loved America to which both his mother and father deeply expressed their love for their country, even saying it was more precious to them than their own life. “Why didn’t…
America Is Beautiful… Even with the turmoil our country continues to experience… heartache, pain, and challenges, inequality, misunderstandings, and racial tension… America Is Beautiful… Consider Her spacious skies and amber waves. Behold her purple mountains above the fruited plain. Her grandeur remains majestic. America Is Beautiful… How grateful we are for the pilgrims and pioneers who a thoroughfare of freedom they beat across the wilderness. And we plead the Love of God will continually mend Her ev’ry flaw and fill…
I spent Father’s Day weekend focusing on the three R’s – Reading, Writing, and (instead Arithmetic) Rejuvenation! It was perfect! READING The reading focused on finishing (almost) Uncommon Type, a collection of short stories by Tom Hanks wherein each story features, to some degree, a typewriter. The second short in the book, “Christmas Eve 1953” resonated quite deeply while “Alan Bean Plus Four” left me searching for the missing lines. WRITING My own words are often inspired by the words…
It’s a wonderful blessing we have of being fathers. Even with all the challenges of raising kids, even with the self-doubts that may discourage our efforts, and even with those times we feel we may have failed, there is incredible joy to be discovered every day being a father. I’m grateful today for the many fathers who figured a role in my life, particularly my own father. Of all Dad’s example which permeates through my life, when times were the…
Every time I see Old Glory, my heart fills with great hope! No matter the strife, conflict, or war, She soars as a symbol of that which is most great. Even when ragged and torn, like the Flag pictured here which we will soon retire, or like our country feels today, She will always soar in hope as we strive to stay united. In honor of Flag Day yesterday (by the way, also the 245th birthday of the United States…
Our country has been here before… and we’ll most likely be here again. Johnny Cash sang it well in “Ragged Old Flag.” And the government for which she stands Is scandalized throughout the land And she’s getting threadbare and wearing thin Turmoil and tempest have once again caused our country to feel like this Ragged Old Flag. Scandalized Threadbare Wearing thin But don’t ever forget… She’s in good shape for the shape she’s in ‘Cause she’s been through the fire…
If I disagree with your opinion, does that make me wrong” If I listen to the “other side,” seeking to understand their position, does that make me “one of them?” If I “like” or put a ❤ on every comment people make on my Facebook posts about the protests and riots, does that make me a terrorist? THE MISCOMMUNICATION POWER OF LIKES & HEARTS Each of the above statements has been alleged against me in the last couple of weeks as…
Elisa chose today’s song as a gift for my 54th birthday. The Man From Snowy River has been my all-time favorite movie ever since I first saw it in 1982 while in high school. The cinematic portrayal of the vast Australian Snowy River Range is some of the most beautiful scenery is all cinematography. The beautiful horses roaming across the countryside are a sight to behold. The movie features one of the most dramatic horse riding scenes ever captured on…