It's my belief that children can be taught at a young age to be or not to be patriotic, to love their country and respect their flag.
The older I grow, the more patriotism seems to well up within me. I was right beside (figuratively) the NFL coach the camera zoomed in on at the Super Bowl last Sunday. He wiped a tear as Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton finished singing, "America the Beautiful."
He must feel, as do I, that despite our problems, America is beautiful.
My love for this country took root at an early age. It began at home and blossomed in elementary school -- outside watching the flag go up the pole and inside a square sandy-colored two story brick school house in Russell, N.D. The building is gone, yet I still see every room in detail.
What stands out more than all else are the lifelike portraits of Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln which hung on a wall in the first grade room. Above the blackboard on each side of the clock were Mr. Washington, our first president and Father of our Country, and Mr. Lincoln, our 16th president -- the one who freed the slaves.
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Back then I knew, by the stories I learned, that these men were to be revered.
May I recommend a couple books: "Killing Lincoln," by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard, and "Being George Washington," by Glenn Beck? Having just read them myself, I respect and admire these men all the more for what they endured in battle and beyond and what they accomplished for America.
The title, "Being George Washington," puzzled me at first but it soon became clear that the author is telling us that we all can be a George Washington -- in other words, someone of impeccable character, dignity, valor and honor as well as one who is guided by the Word of God. The author believes America will be a better place when all of us strive to be like the person in this book.
We know that February is the birthday month of both these men. Washington was born on the 22nd in 1732, and Lincoln on the 12th in 1809. It would have been nice if they could have had cake and ice cream together at least once. It's recorded that George loved ice cream, but he died 10 years before Abe was born. I would imagine that Abe had high regard for his predecessor.
At Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C., I've seen the box seat Lincoln was in when shot. I've been to the house and in the upstairs bedroom where he later died. Chilling!
And with my sister, Lori, and her husband, Bob, I've visited George and Martha Washington's home at Mount Vernon, the most popular historic house in America. I've been there once, they went at least 100 times during the 15 years they lived 30 miles away in Oakton, Va. "It's a wonderful place to visit with a lot of educational activities," Bob said.
A couple of tidbits: The huge house is an old English style with a long open porch and columns. As you enter there's a large dining room on the left.
"It's the place where Washington served people," Bob said. "He had guests all the time. Out of 365 days, he probably had guests 360 days. People who knew him traveled that way. They would knock on the door and he would receive them."
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And after dinner, tables would be pushed back "and they would dance," Lori added.
The backside of the house overlooks the beautiful Potomac River. The bedrooms are on the second floor and the story goes that when Washington died, Martha never slept in their room again.
"She occupied a room on the third floor and became almost a recluse," Bob said.
One of the highlights of our visit was dinner at Mount Vernon Inn where peanut soup is a specialty. I invite you to visit my blog: www.areavoices.com/inthespirit where I've posted a couple of peanut soup recipes.
On my blog, you'll also see a photo of Russell School where for most of my elementary years, George and Abe looked out across my classroom. Knowing George as I do now, I can almost hear him repeat to each of us one of his notable quotes: "Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience."
Reach Naomi Dunavan at (218) 773-9521 or e-mail: naomiinthespirit@aol.com .
