It was a proud moment at Kutztown University in December 1989. I was graduating from college - Summa Cum Laude. We, the graduating class, had just come marching in and took our seats in chairs on the floor. Our families had taken their seats on the bleachers above us. I looked around until my eyes landed on Mom, Dad, my brother, Al, Aunt Bea and Aunt Claire sitting to the upper left. Then they asked everyone to rise and sing the National Anthem. I suddenly felt stupid. I looked around watching all the other students singing. Mom and Dad and the rest of my guests were singing, too. It seemed like I was the only person in the world who wasn't singing. How had I gotten through 12 years of school and four years of college without knowing the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner"? On the other hand, when did I need to know them except for singing at ceremonies like that one? I forgot about it as the event moved on. There were speeches, diplomas, pictures and tassels being moved. A fellow student looked at his new diploma and remarked that it cost him ten grand to get it. Somebody else joked that they may be full of BS but their diploma was actually a BA.
That night Mom, Dad and I sat around Al's kitchen table eating cake and talking about the big day. "Oh, and by the way, what are the words to the National Anthem?" I asked. They were surprised that I didn't already know them. Mom began to recite them slowly, line by line.....What so proudly we hailed, at the twilight's last gleaming. "That's beautiful!" I exclaimed. "Can I have a piece of paper? I need to write this down!" Somebody gave me a pen and paper. Mom then continued reciting as I continued writing, while Dad chimed in, telling me the story of how the song came to be. He talked about a man on a ship who was watching a battle take place in the dark of night. There was a twinkling in Dad's eyes as he described what the man was seeing - a sky lit up by bombs with the American flag in the background. It almost sounded like Dad had been there himself, watching it. The flag seemed to come alive in his story - a symbol of steadfastness and perseverance during difficult times - a reflection of the strength that our country was built on.
I had heard a lot of stories while I was in college, but none so beautiful as that one. I lost the paper I was writing on, but never forgot the words. I got a sticker with a flag on it and pasted it to the dashboard of my car. I put it where I would see it often - a reminder that we can take pride in facing the challenges of life with determination and patient endurance. It was ironic that my first teachers would become my last teachers. School had taught me "what, when, where and how", but I could only get the "why" from my parents. It had taken me sixteen years to learn the words to the "The Star-spangled Banner". Perhaps, though, its not so important how long it takes us to learn something but how much it means to us when we do.
Ready or not, here it comes....the 250th Anniversary of our Nation! Not everyone is anxious to celebrate it. We didn't expect there would be so many problems at this time, but history reminds us that we've faced adversity before and made it through. As the Reverend Schuller used to say, "Tough times don't last. Tough people do." Some people are no longer proud to be an American because of things that happened recently. But when did our identity as a nation become defined by the events of a single decade? The people in today's news were not around during the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and they will only be a vague memory to the people celebrating the Tri-centennial.
America to me is not defined by a particular administration or political ideology. It is not defined by a few powerful people making big decisions. It is defined by the hearts of the people who serve it's meals, sweep it's floors, mow its grass and empty its bedpans. It is defined by the common people who make small decisions every day that add joy to the lives of those around them. It is defined by the people who perform the mundane tasks that keep everything running. It is defined by people like you and me, and that is something worth celebrating!
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