VETERANS DAY 2025

 

No words of gratitude will ever be enough, but

thank you to all our Veterans.

Forever grateful!

(Comments are off for today)

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY - AND A POEM BY WALT WHITMAN

I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,

Those of mechanics, each one singing his best as it should be blithe and strong, 

The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,

The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,

The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck,

The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands,

The wood-cutter's song, the ploughboy's on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown,

The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing,

Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,

The day what belongs to the day - at night party of young fellows, robust, friendly,

Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.

~Walt Whitman~ 

 First published in 1860 

Happy 4th of July!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY - A WEEK OF QUOTES - PART 4

'Ragged Old Flag'

by the late and great

Johnny Cash

I walked through a country courthouse square,
On a park bench an old man was sitting there.
I said, "Your old courthouse is kinda run down."
He said, "Naw, it'll do for our little town."
I said, "Your flagpole has leaned a little bit,
And that's a Ragged Old Flag you got hanging on it."
He said, "Have a seat", and I sat down.
"Is this the first time you've been to our little town?"
I said, "I think it is."  He said, "I don't like to brag, 
But we're kinda proud of that Ragged Old Flag."
You see, we got a little hole in that flag there
When Washington took it across the Delaware.
And it got powder-burned the night Francis Scott Key
Sat watching it, writing, 'Oh Say Can You See.'
And it got a bad rip in New Orleans
With Packingham and Jackson tuggin' at its seams.
And it almost fell at the Alamo
Beside the Texas flag, but she waved on through.
She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville
And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill.
There was Robert E. Lee, Beauregard, and Bragg,
And the south wind blew hard on that Ragged Old Flag.
On Flanders Field in World War I
She got a big hole from a Bertha gun.
She turned blood red in World War II.
She hung limp and low by the time it was through.
She was in Korea and Vietnam.
She went where she was sent by her Uncle Sam.
She waved from our ships upon the briny foam,
And now they've about quit waving her back here at home.
In her own good land she's been abused.
She's been burned, dishonored, denied and refused.
And the government for which she stands
is scandalized throughout the land.
And she's threadbare and wearing thin,
but she's in good shape for the shape she's in.
'Cause she's been through the fire before
And I believe she can take a whole lot more.
So we raise her up every morning,
Take her down every night.
We don't let her touch the ground
And we fold her up tight.
On second thought I DO like to brag,

'Cause I'm mighty proud of that Ragged Old Flag."

To All My American Friends here and abroad,

Happy 4th of July, with my thanks to everyone who serves and who has served, and to all those wonderful people who help others, whether it be in their profession or volunteer in any capacity. 

"No Republicans nor Democrats on Independence Day but all Americans, United not Divided."

A quote I heard recently and one I truly love.

Thanks for reading and stopping by.
Blessings and Peace to each and every one of you.  Wishing you Love, Happiness, Kindness, Tolerance, Patience and Respect, all those good things, and in receiving giving the same.
And once again, Happy 4th of July!