JOHN WAYNE & AMERICA

TRIVIA: (Answer below)
What year did the Continental Congress authorize the Stars & Stripes as the National Flag?   What is a common nickname for the American Flag?

JOKE:
Q:  What protest by a group of dogs occurred in 1773?

A:  The Boston Flea Party.

TRICIA’S TWEET OF THE DAY:
Don't talk about the problem.   Talk about the solution

QUOTE:  

“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”
John Wayne

RANDOM OBSERVATION

The recent events in Boston have been beyond tragic.   Horrific events such as this & the 9/11 attacks unite us as Americans.  During the past week, I’ve thought often of a poem written by John Mitchum & performed by John Wayne.  It’s called “America.  Why I Love Her.”  It is from John Wayne’s Patriotic recording of the same name.   The recording is a collection of American poetry all read by “The Duke”.  I’ve always been a fan of John Wayne.  He was a man’s man & a heartfelt patriot with a deep love for his country.   

I’ve included the lyrics to the poem below.   During times such as these, it’s good to remind ourselves of our love for our America & these words express it much better than I ever could.  There’s also a link to a youtube video that has the audio of John Wayne performing the poem.  If you get a chance, listen to the recording included below the words.   There’s no beating that distinct voice of  “The Duke”. 

Tragedy brings our attention away from our politics & towards one thing, the people who’ve been impacted.  For a brief time, we forget about our differences and rally together to take care of our fellow man.  Let us always remember that we are the ‘one people’ of The Declaration of Independence.  We are the ‘perfect Union’ of The Constitution.  Don’t Tread On Us.....for we are......the UNITED State of America.

America - Why I Love Her

You ask me Why I Love Her?  Well, give me time and I'll explain.
Have you see a Kansas sunset or an Arizona rain?
Have you drifted on a bayou down Louisiana way?
Have you watched a cold fog drifting over San Francisco Bay?

Have you heard a bobwhite calling in the Carolina pines,
Or heard the bellow of a diesel at the Appalachia mines?
Does the call of Niagara thrill you when you hear her waters roar?
Do you look with awe and wonder at her Massachusetts shore,
Where men who braved a hard new world first stepped on Plymouth's rock?
And do you think of them when you stroll along a new York City dock?

Have you seen a snowflake drifting in the Rockies, way up high?
Have you seen the sun come blazing down from a bright Nevada sky?
Do you hail to the Columbia as she rushes to the sea,
Or bow your head at Gettysburg at our struggle to be free?

Have you seen the mighty Tetons? Have you watched an eagle soar?
Have you see the Mississippi roll along Missouri's shore?
Have you felt a chill at Michigan when on a winter's day
Her waters rage along the shore in thunderous display?
Does the word "Aloha" make you warm? Do you stare in disbelief
When you see the surf come roaring in at Waimea Reef?

From Alaska's cold to the Everglades, from the Rio Grande to Maine,
My heart cries out, my pulse runs fast at the might of her domain.
You ask me Why I Love Her? I've a million reasons why:
My Beautiful America, beneath God's wide, wide sky.

Here is the link to the audio of John Wayne reciting this poem.  

http://youtu.be/yQM1oLnMLNU

TRIVIA ANSWER:
June 14, 1777;  “Old Glory”

Until next time.....