It seems like there are unintended consequences all around us these days.
We had a delightful time at a small-town parade about an hour outside of San Diego on the 4th of July. During the crowd “warm-up”, one woman in particular sung several patriotic songs including “God Bless America.” With public schools cutting music programs over the past couple of decades, I wondered to myself how many kids in the crowd had ever heard the song, let alone knew the words to it.
So while taking music out of the public schools accomplished budget reduction, and some swoon over kids not getting to “experience music,” I lament that entire generations will probably never be exposed to this crucial heritage of our country!
Next 4th of July, I encourage you to include some patriotic singing in your family meeting time and expose your kids to this vital element of being an American. Our nation’s heritage is slipping away from us I fear. How many of us adults have even forgotten (or never known) the fourth verse of the National Anthem? May this give us all sufficient pause to bring these elements back into our homes.
O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation.
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n 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!
