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I believe that I love America for many reasons.
My love affair began when I was just a little girl. To
me, freedom was portrayed through heroic characters and brave
individuals. I grew up with some of the best story tellers in the world.
Ben Taylor, John Koci, and my mom were just a few of the
masters. To them, I attribute my enthusiasm for legends and folklore, as
well as a respect for history. While most seven-year- old girls were
playing with Barbie and Ken, my dearest friend, Alyson, and I were
crossing the Delaware.
I have never been lacking in imagination, and God knew I
needed a friend that would co-sail the seas of fantasy. He gave me
Alyson.
She portrayed General George Washington better than
anyone could imagine. I would dare say that I made a pretty good Martha.
When there was also the occasional need for a wounded or sick soldier, I
could pull that off splendidly. We never thought too much about historic
accuracy, but I think for a couple of country kids, we did a fine job.
Our siblings were often weary of our “revolutions” and
“civil” conflicts. Little brother, Benjamin, was a mighty good native
and took part in many an uprising on the Key Ridge hillsides. Blue
Jacket and Tecumseh were rivaled with this young boy’s quick and agile
ways.
When the war drums were beat, all knew to stay clear or
become captive of the tyrant tribe playing in Jerry’s hayfield, looking
for turncoats or betrayers. I believe my older sister Mellody was
subject to “prisoner of war” once. She was held for a ransom of Grammy’s
homemade bread.
For us, it was play. Our forts were everything from
tires to Papa’s little wooden shed. We celebrated history in our many
games. Dress up for two little girls usually means high heels and hats.
For Alyson and I, it was often uniforms and weapons--which depended upon
the era we were representing.
I believe that those were defining days for me. I grew
to love the past and to respect those that blazed the paths of our
America.
The Fourth of July will be celebrated this weekend.
Remember, as you barbecue and watch fireworks, that our Nation
celebrates its birthday due to characters and heroes that did more than
fill the pages of our history books. They filled the hearts of young
adventurers and made childhood dreams possible. My hope is that they
still do today.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men
are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit
of Happiness.”
Pursue your happiness in things that are priceless--the
people you love, the memories you have made, and the history you can
make each day.
Remember that our liberty and freedom has not come
cheaply. Many a man and woman are still wearing a uniform to protect us
today. They too are becoming the legends children will someday portray.
Thanks to them, Happy Fourth of July to all, and Happy
Birthday, America.
The following lyrics are for those still in the battle
and protecting our precious liberty
. . . you are the heroes of our freedom. We still believe. Make
it home. Make it safe:
She walked to the mailbox
On that bright
summer’s day
Found a letter
from her son
In a war far
away
He spoke of the
weather
And good
friends that he’d made
Said I’d been
thinking ‘bout dad
And the life
that he had
That’s why I’m
here today
And at the end
he said
You are what
I’m fighting for
It was the
first of his letters from war
She started
writing
You’re good and
you’re brave
What a father
that you’ll be someday
make it home
make it safe
She wrote every
night as she prayed
Late in
December
A day she’ll
not forget
Oh her tears
stained the paper
With every word
that she read
It said “I was
up on a hill
I was out there
alone
When the shots
all rang out
And bombs were
exploding
And that’s when
I saw him
He came back
for me
And though he
was captured
A man set me
free
And that man
was your son
He asked me to
write to you
I told him I
would, oh I swore”
It was the last
of the letters from war
And she prayed
he was living
Kept on
believing
And wrote every
night just to say
You are good
And you’re
brave
what a father
that you’ll be someday
Make it home
Make it safe
Still she kept
writing each day
Then two years
later
Autumn leaves
all around
A car pulled in
the driveway
And she fell to
the ground
And out stepped
a captain
Where her boy
used to stand
He said “mom,
I’m following orders
From all of
your letters
And I’ve come
home again,”
He ran into
hold her
And dropped all
his bags on the floor
Holding all of
her letters from war
Make it Home
Make it Home
Make it Home
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