Saturday, November 13, 2010

A good week to be an American

Veteran'a Day was Thursday, and in the last couple of weeks, I've gotten a close look at patriotism and the American child. It is healthy and well.

One of my grandchildren is in elementary school, the other in middle school. Both had music to learn for a program Thursday in the football stadium (fortunately, the cold front and rain didn't come in till Friday). Both know all the words to the national anthem, the pledge of allegiance, and a number of patriotic songs. With all the enthusiasm of well-loved children, they believe in honesty, truth, and the law. They make me look at the future and smile. The adults around them are teaching them well.

In Brownies, the troop members were all given a sheet of paper and asked to draw something that symbolized America to them. A number drew the flag, two drew the liberty bell and one drew the capitol. My imaginative granddaughter drew a flag--and then drew a strong, muscular arm in the middle of it for the ARM-y, she said, and to show America is strong.

She likes to fetch my mail, and on Thursday when we got home, I told her thare was no mail because it was a national holiday.

"That's silly," she said, "You won't get your Happy Veteran's Day card in time."

I laughed at that. But maybe the card industry should look into it.

On Sunday, veterans at church have been invited to come in their uniforms, or any remnant of their service.

One Korean veteran has announced his intention to bring his old rifle, which has raised a few nervous eyebrows.

But this IS Texas.

3 comments:

JPG said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
JPG said...

Please share: Did the Korean War Vet really bring his rifle to Church? I hope no one objected.

The Texas Historical Marker at Oak Grove Church tells of services being held at that site since the mid-1800s. It specifically mentions that worshippers brought their firearms, to keep "meeting" safe from marauding Comanches. There's precedent aplenty for peaceable parishioners preferring to be undisturbed in their devotions.

charlotte g said...

No, he didn't. We have many members from other states and used to different customs, so he was asked not to bring it. And he didn't. I was actually a bit disappointed, but I half expected it.
I was impressed that our church had so many vets, including four women. It's a small church, so 20-some vets was a good many.
A school project for youngest granddaughter was to list vets in her family. My own family line had none, but each of her parents had a veteran to list. In so doing, we talkied about great-grandfathers, and covered some fine family heritage.