Though I was far from alive when this date Dec. 7, 1941, became known as a Day of Infamy, I know and appreciate from being a child of the "Greatest Generation" its impact on that generation and our world.
Our family visited the site of the Pearl Harbor attack a few years back, and I never apologize for reposting some of the photos taken that day.
These scenes seem especially poignant during this week when we, as a nation, watched the stirring and inspiring sequence of formal events celebrating our 41st President of the United States George Herbert Walker Bush.
The music, the tears, the spoken remembrances, the precision of military traditions----all served as reminders of a good and gentle and thoughtful man and of the great nation to which he devoted his life.
Often, while watching the various events, I could not help but think of my own parents, to whom we have said good bye and whom we miss so dearly.
I also thought of the generation as a whole and all its contributions to the nation in which we were born.
I thought of how our generation grew up in the United States of America seldom feeling anything but pride and appreciation for the positive environment this Greatest Generation prepared for us.
They did a magnificent job in setting the scene for our lives, and as we watch the last of this great generation fade from this Earth, it seems past time that we take from the examples set by George Herbert Walker Bush and his contemporaries.
It's a sad time, and it's a disturbing time for America.
After this week of poignant and inspiring reminders of what this nation has been in our eyes for most of our lives and what it could continue to be, let's pray that a week such as this one brings on a hopeful time.
As one television commentator so eloquently stated, seeing the events of this past week, "just makes you want to be a better person."
In one of his speeches, George Herbert Walker Bush coined the idea of 10,000 points of light. May we, as Americans take inspiration from President Bush's concept.
May we continue to do good works as individuals in our respective communities, and more importantly, may individuals with personal qualities of leadership, decency and principled conviction step to the plate, stand up for what is right and LEAD us into a better time.
Who knows? The collective effect of the citizenry and its leaders "being better people" could launch an even greater generation where we become an even better nation.
What a tribute that effort could be to those who came before us and sacrificed so much in our behalf!
And, what a gift we could leave for the generations who follow us!
~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, on the weather front, we still continue to enjoy what I consider the "ideal winter." I love seeing the snow up in the mountains and dry ground below.
It's fun to drive somewhere else to see the snow.
I know snow is inevitable and needed down here in the valley, but it's still pretty nice to go outside in my tennis shoes rather than heavy, cumbersome boots to do the chores.
So, I'm not complaining. We'll definitely pay our dues later.
Happy Friday.
No comments:
Post a Comment