A Grand Old Flag Day in Seekerville!

Gold Star Family Memorial, honoring those who've made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom... and honoring their families.
We wanted to take this Friday, July 3rd, in a year when there will be fewer parties and picnics and celebrations going on due to the current pandemic to tell you all why we love America... what we love about the red, white and blue.

Is it (are we?) perfect?

No.

But we are blessed to live in a country where freedom rings, where the freedoms to speak, worship and bear arms are regarded with a seriousness that isn't found in many places. We are blessed to live in a country where we are free because of the brave, so Ruthy's salute is to our military, past and present. Those impressive Washington war memorials and local memorials aren't just there to look good.... they've been erected to remind us of the sacrifice others have made for you... and me. So to our military, past and present, I thank  you from the bottom of my heart. And God bless you. I'm free to write this because you took up the sword in my name.

Remembering the "Forgotten War", the 70th anniversary of the invasion of South Korea by North Korea, June 25th, 1950. 

Cate - 

As a child, I was wildly patriotic, a huge fan of the Founding Fathers (particularly John Adams), and was happy to live in the greatest country on earth. It wasn't until I was older that I realized those freedoms I cherished weren't shared equally by all. Many years ago, when I taught American government to seniors in high school, I used to love to start the year with a discussion of two dueling quotes - 
Stephen Decatur - “Our country! In her intercourse with foreign nations, may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong.”

versus

Carl Schurz - My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right.

It was always a great discussion.

Carl Schurz intrigues me as much as John Adams ever did. He was a German immigrant who fought for the Union, served as a Senator from Missouri, urged high moral standards in government, and had complete confidence in the American people to do what was right. I think he's a wonderful reminder of what makes America strong. 






Jan - 

My husband and I are blessed to live only a few miles from Mount Rushmore, also known as the "Shrine of Democracy."



Construction on this impressive memorial was started in the 1920's and finished in 1941. Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor of the monument, had originally wanted to include a history of the United States from 1776 on. His idea was to carve the words on the side of the mountain, but the entablature was never completed. Even though Borglum teamed up with Hearst newspapers to run an essay contest in 1934, the winner's essay was never included in the carving.

Instead, in 1971 the winner of that contest, William Andrew Burkett, donated a bronze plaque of his award winning essay, and it is now displayed on the Borglum View Terrace at Mount Rushmore, accessed by the President's View Trail. 

You can read his entire piece here: History of the United States of America

I love what he wrote at the conclusion of his essay:

"Holding no fear of the economic and political, chaotic clouds hovering over the earth, the consecrated Americans dedicate this nation before God, to exalt righteousness and to maintain mankind's constituted liberties so long as the earth shall endure."




Annie -

Growing up, one of the must read and learn in our history class was the history of the United States of America. We read the Declaration of Independence together as a class. There's so much pride in what it means to be an American - to fight for your freedom, and to fulfill the American dream. Our forefathers gave us the chance of a nation, and tomorrow we celebrate our Independence Day. God bless America!



Mindy - 
As a young military wife, I spent three July 4ths on foreign soil. There would be a base-wide picnic and fireworks celebration to mark the event. They had bands that would play and everyone had a great time. But when one of the bands played Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA, everyone stopped what they were doing and sang along. I still get chill bumps when I think about it. Hearing that song while living in another country reminded us just how special America is. The freedoms we often take for granted were suddenly more precious. It's something I will never forget. God bless the USA!
 Erica ~ 
An old favorite that says it so well...


Mary

Debby~
God, family and country are the three things I hold most dear!I'm so proud to be an American!
Each day, my family and I say the following prayer that I want to share with all of you, our wonderful Seekerville blog community.
PRAYER FOR THE HEALING OF OUR NATIONAlmighty God, our Rock and our Salvation, we beg youTo pour out your Holy Spirit upon our fractured nation.Heal the divisions that separate us andRemove all obstacles to authentic unity.May you guide this great country of ours and lead our citizensTo embrace one another as neighbors and fellow countrymen,Created in your own image and likeness.Give us a fresh opportunity for renewal and true solidarityFor the common good of our homeland.May we return to our true identity as a people of faith and charity.Help us to always remain One Nation, Under God,Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.AmenBy Pedro de la Cruz 
GOD BLESS THE USA!