Our Independence Day is purely an American holiday and one of my favorites.
I'm reminded of
my maternal ancestor, Solomon Sparks, who fought in the American Revolution...
but he did not fight for the Colonies.
He was a Tory, loyal to the King. At one point during the war, Minutemen lured him out of his house, hogtied him, and sent him down the Yadkin River in a canoe. As he floated helplessly downstream, he chanted "Hurrah for King George. Hurrah for King George."
Fortunately, that is not the end of the story. Loyalist Solomon had five sons. Each became a Patriot, supporting America's independence. Solomon's sons knew what he did not: that freedom was a cause bigger and more important than anything, even family.
I also think
of immigrants like my paternal grandfather and namesake, Carl. 110 years ago, Carl left his home and family in Norway to set sail for America at the age of 17.
My Gramps Carl still loved the "old country". He never left his Norske heritage but he was a proud American. He was a quite man who came to this country with nothing, grabbed onto the American dream and never let go. He loved his new country and talked only about its greatness.
Just recently did I learn he had not always been welcome. Disdain for immigrants carried down to my father and uncles- all born in America. They were called "furiners" or foreigners. "Furiners" were not allowed to take a shortcut through the neighbor's land and resulted in a much longer walk to and from the one room schoolhouse. Undaunted, my Gramps and Granny, raised three sons each with a call to patriotism and deep love for America.
Tomorrow
we celebrate tomorrow the birthday of our great country. It is a
time to pause and appreciate the courage of our Founders, who sacrificed personal fortunes and often their very lives for liberty, freedom and the "Great American Experiment". It is a time to remember the sacrifice of the men and women who have followed to protect and maintain that hard-earned freedom and liberty.
Listen and watch the United States Army Field Band and Soldier's Chorus perform John Philip Sousa's most famous march, The
St
ars and Stripes Forever. We rarely hear the lyrics to our National March. To see the lyrics please turn on your closed captioning starting at 1.04.
Then get out your parade shoes and join me in Stewartville's Independence Day Parade! The parade begins at 6:30 PM. Line up at 5:45. The Nelson for Senate float is #38! Park at Stewartville High School. I'll have a red Nelson Tshirt waiting for you.
From my house to yours, wishing you a wonderful Independence Day!
