HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

When I was in the 8th grade, I missed a question on a history test. An important question. And being a patriot, my teacher, Mr. Nobles, made me write the following sentence 500 times. “Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence.” That’s right. 500 times. Believe me, I never forgot who wrote that document or the date of 1776, when it was written. 

Now here we are celebrating our county’s 250th birthday. What an event! Just for fun, I looked up the 1876 anniversary. A Centennial Exposition was held at Philadelphia to commemorate the 100th anniversary with the first “World’s Fair” being held in the United States. 

And of course, 1976 brought our country’s Bicentennial Celebration. I personally had an even greater reason to celebrate that year. A Bicentennial Baby! My youngest son, Jay was born on April 7, 1976, complete with a Bicentennial Birth Certificate. Perhaps that’s why Jay grew up loving our country and filling his room with U.S. flags. 

And where would this country be without our strong military and veterans? When I was twenty years old, my fiancé was drafted out of college. A few months later, Carl and I were married just hours before his deployment overseas. Though neither of us enjoyed the year and half separation, I am so proud of my late husband for serving our country. Carl served with honor, and forever displayed a U.S. Army sticker on the window of his truck. 

Now, I love all the fireworks and parades and concerts on the birthday of our country, but I especially love the flag that represents our homeland. Those stars and stripes hold the blood of soldiers in numerous wars. It’s heavy with the tears of wives, mothers, fathers and other loved ones who sat beside a flag-draped casket. 

You may never understand that kind of sacrifice until a folded flag is placed in your own hands. But until then, honor it. Respect it. Salute it. Revere it. Many gave their lives for the freedom our flag represents. So let’s celebrate. 

It’s Our Nation’s 250th Birthday! 

May God Bless The USA!