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Senior Citizen Opinions & Analysis
The Red, White and Blue Are Still The Envy Of The
World!
The flag has become the symbol for a people who are
kind, generous and hard-working
By Bill Kalmar, Retiree
  June
18, 2010 - Summer in our nation is a time for frolicking, friends, and
fireworks. Pleasant weather and the urge to participate in outdoor
activities such as picnicking, swimming, camping, boating, biking or
just sitting in a comfortable lounge chair outside as the soft winds of
summer caress our hair seems to be on many an agenda.
And of course throngs of us will have wanderlust
and thus those drive-away vacations taking us to amusement parks,
national parks, historic sites or just grandma’s home are often on our
schedule.
As we traveled recently to visit grandchildren in
St. Louis I marveled at the number of people on the road in cars laden
with suitcases atop the roof or just a camper being pulled behind an
SUV. Highway rest areas were abundant with families making their way to
a favorite vacation haunt.
What struck me was the ease in which all of us in
this country can travel hither and dither without any restrictions or
fear. But this freedom of travel did not come easily.
Many years ago when our forefathers came to this
new country they decided that freedom of choice and freedom of travel
were of paramount importance. And, thus, in 1776 we were blessed with a
Constitution and a Bill of Rights which have stood the test of time and
which have become a beacon and a benchmark for other countries. It is
called democracy and it is the envy of the world!
From the early beginnings of our country we have
fought to be free of tyranny starting with our separation from the
British. Soon afterwards our country was embroiled in a brutal civil
war pitting the North against the South. Once again the issue of
freedom was on everyone’s mind. And then along came two world wars
whose purpose again was to establish a beachfront for freedom in our
country and to destroy those forces that thought and acted otherwise.
Even today the value of freedom is at the forefront as troops from the
United States and other countries fight back an enemy hell-bent on
destroying freedom wherever it exists.
Throughout all these skirmishes and battles the
people of the United States remain the most patriotic force in the
world. One only has to witness some of the reminders of these events to
understand and appreciate how significant the flying of the red, white,
and blue is to our country. The flag has become the symbol for a people
who are kind, generous and hard-working.
We recently had the distinct pleasure of visiting
Greenfield Village for the Annual Civil War Re-Enactment. Watching a
rag tag militia of men dressed in appropriate garb carrying muskets
marching through the grounds of the Village resonates with everyone who
attends this festival. Whatever your allegiance is to the outcome of
this conflict, today we are one nation upholding the rights of one
another.
There are other significant reminders of our
country’s fight for freedom and a way of life unencumbered with tyrants
and bullies. Look no further than the ships run aground and sunk at
Pearl Harbor or the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C. or the World War II
Memorial in that same local to understand that our patriotism crosses
many borders and that we will respond wherever and whenever freedom is
threatened.
So as we prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July
with family and friends and as we fire up the grill, let us not fail to
remember why we are having the freedom to do so. It is because of the
men and women who came before us and for those who are currently
battling evil elsewhere in the world that we have the freedom to
celebrate this holiday.
And as we hoist that proud red, white and blue
symbol of our country let us not forget that our freedom today was not
gained easily. The graves in Arlington, the markers in the fields of
Tennessee and the stately site of crosses in Normandy are stark
remembrance of the men and women who died for our country.
So as we begin to celebrate our nation’s highest
holiday, let’s pause for a moment as we look at that wonderful,
beautiful flag – the symbol of our freedom – and thank these brave
patriots for their contribution in making this the best country in the
world.
Lyrics from the Neal Diamond song “America” are
indicative of the lure our country has: “Everywhere around the world –
They’re coming to America – Every time that flag’s unfurled – They’re
coming to America.”
And let’s never forget the words of Abraham Lincoln
when he said: “Freedom is the last, best hope of earth”. So when we
travel freely around this great country during the next couple of
months, keep in mind the reason we are able to do so – people just like
us saw the value in fighting for freedom!
Happy Fourth of July!
Bill Kalmar is retired in Lake Orion, Michigan,
and is the former Director of the Michigan Quality Council. He is a
frequent contributor to SeniorJournal.com. His opinions are his own.
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A sign of
the times that makes a columnist rethink his attitude on retirement