Remembering the symbol of FREEDOM
As you stand on the world stage, representing the United States of American, just for one fleeting moment….remember those who died to give you and ALL Americans the glorious privilege of freedom. Our flag and the Anthem are strong symbols of those sacrifices to continue as a free nation.
If you are an American, you know how much has been sacrificed by our young nation to keep the freedoms that we have today. It has been a process…slowly at times…but a process just the same. People from around the world have fled to this new nation in America to leave oppression. They are still coming today…some legally as our laws intended….and some illegally, which hurts our nation.
Unfortunately, some Americans’ ancestors came via a slave ship. Over the years, the laws of the land have changed to help right this wrong. Starting with President Lincoln and moving into modern history where the more recent laws reflect that “…liberty is for ALL.” We call this GROWTH OF OUR NATION. As in the past and if we allow it, our nation will continue to grow toward a “more perfect Union,” as written in the Preamble to the Constitution:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America
There are some today who do not see this growth in their own lives or acknowledge it as a growth in our country. However, if we look at history in a realistic way, we can see that the growth has been there in the areas of education, community assistance and much more. We, as Americans, need to be careful that the historical growth we have experienced as a nation does not turn around and move backwards due to those who would ignore history and the accomplishments so far.
Men and women over the years have died to keep freedom alive. Those who would downgrade our way of life, even with the imperfections, will be in danger of being a part of destroying what so many have given all to protect.
There are certain symbols that we have in the United States that represent freedom, liberty and the “pursuit of happiness.” They are the American flag, our National Anthem and the written symbols carefully protected… the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and more.
Shamefully, using our first Amendment for FREE SPEECH, some Americans used the Olympics as a platform for their political agendas rather than giving honor to those who wrote the Constitution or have died to give them and all people the right and privilege. This could very well be a right that future generations could have taken away should our people ever FORGET the cost of democracy and that our nation has come a long way. It is worth the simple act of standing tall and honoring our symbols of freedom.
The last part of the Anthem, as originally written by Francis Scott Key, are especially important for us to remember:
“…O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand Between their loved home and the war’s desolation! Blessed with victory and peace may the heaven rescued land Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto – “In God is our trust,” And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave. “
Turn up your Sound for the playing of the American National Anthem by the U.S. Marine Band
