My Parents Influence was very impactful on the love I have for my beloved United States of America. My Daddy served in the US Army as a young man. They were both born in the Great Depression, making them very humble and grateful for all blessings. They were frugal not being over indulgent in having things, but very careful with what they owned using things up and wearing things out. They didn’t have to throw much away, because they repaired and took good care of their home, cars, clothes, and yard. Many days out of the year an American Flag hung from the front porch. We were taught to love our country and be grateful for all of the abundance living here provides. When jets stationed at the Air Force Base just south of where I grew up, would fly overhead, my Mama would put her hand on her heart a say with an “Awe” in her voice, “Just look at that! That is the sound of Freedom!” My parents taught me that even though things aren’t perfect here in this country, it is the best country on earth. It is the only place on earth where you have the right to choose most anything you might imagine. There are laws, so within the boundary of laws, you can even burn the flag. Most places would never allow that. It breaks my heart when people do it, but I know that because of our beautiful country, if someone wants to they can. We were always taught to share. Sometimes the government tries to get involved in giving to those less fortunate, but it will never be fair, because imperfect people are in charge. We always give a tithe to our church, and donate to various groups to help others. That’s just what you do to love your neighbor. I can’t tell others what to do with their money, but I was taught to share. We have an abundance in this country.

From the very first day I started school we stood as a class and said The Pledge of Allegiance. Picture 25 tiny little kindergarteners with their hands over their heart looking up at the flag and saying: “I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag of The United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, One nation under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All. ” How wonderful! How perfect to be an ally and true to our country. It’s not a democracy like so many say, it’s a Republic. The dictionary defines a Republic as: a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch. Our beautiful country is ours! It belongs to each of its citizens. And my favorite part is that we are “One Nation Under God.” Our country is founded and originally lead by God fearing, courageous, noble men and women who put God first. They knew they were nothing without God. They prayed at all meetings asking and pleading with God to be with them as they worked out how to build this country . My personal belief is that we were all meant to choose what religion that suites us. If you don’t have a country that believes in a God, an all powerful being, supreme, how can you be allowed to choose what you want to believe. People came because this country would allow that. The founders wanted us all to be undivided, so that choosing faith and God is critical. If we do choose Faith and God, there will be Justice for all, because we will love our neighbor as ourselves. We will want what’s best for us and our neighbor and all citizens.

Well, there are a lot of people who don’t want God involved in their lives in this country. We used to get a ten minute quiet time for meditation or prayer when I was in elementary. Prayer is not very popular right now. Some schools don’t even say the Pledge of Allegiance. Our country is struggling.

When Brett’s parents, Pearce and Nancy were serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Boston, we knew we had to visit. It was our once in a lifetime trip. We were able to fly to Boston, where we stayed with the in-laws. We rented a big van and trucked all over with our family of 6 and Pearce and Nancy. This is the list of the places we saw: Fall River, Lexington and Concord, Old North Church, Paul Revere’s Home, New England Aquarium, Plymouth, Plimouth Plantation, Providence and Newport, Rhode Island, New Bedford, New York, Statue of Liberty, Philadelphia, Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, US Mint, Betsy Ross Home, Washington DC, The following Monuments and Memorials; Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Vietnam, Iwo Jima, Vietnam Women’s Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Marines Memorial, and Lincoln Memorial . We went to The Air and Space Museum, The US History Museum, The Museum of Natural History and then at the end of the trip we walked the Freedom Trail in downtown Boston before we flew home.

I was in so much amazement, awe and respect for this beautiful country. Learning about and seeing so many places that represent our history. We live in a time when some people look down on the founders. I am amazed at all they accomplished. I am grateful for their tenacity and grit. I don’t have any room to judge any of them. I understand a lot of our history and why things happened when and how they happened. I like to believe they did their very best. I feel ashamed of those who judge them. There is a very prideful attitude in our country right now. Very judgmental, and critical of all others. While on our trip I thought about the young founders like George Washington and others, who weren’t really that old, who gave so much time to fight for freedom. I thought about the pilgrims who came over the ocean and did their best to survive the first winter, half of whom died. What did they eat? How did they do it? I know there are some stories that are harsh about them, I think they did the best they could, just like we would. I thought about the beautiful- Statue of Liberty and of the feeling of gratitude those who went through so much coming to live here must have felt to see her. I thought about all of the talking and reasoning that helped the original 13 colonies decide to unite. I felt so much gratitude and love for those who fought and those who died fighting in all of the wars throughout history. I love all of them! I hope they know. We viewed the displays of many of the miraculous events like Space travel, breaking the sound barrier, first flight across the Atlantic. We saw amazing skeletons of animals, the Hope Diamond, meteorite rocks, and I felt so grateful for those who organize all of these things so we can see them. We drove back up to Massachusetts from DC and we were amazed that all of these things we had seen and done were within about 7 hours of each other. We had a magnificent time. We will never for it. I feel so grateful for our nation and it’s history. I’m so happy to know the history, warts and all. I love The United States of America!

I hope it’s clear that even though our beautiful country is not perfect that I will always stand by her. I will always believe in her, and I believe there is Always Hope! I trust our wonderful Heavenly Father the He will bless our country. Even though so many have forgotten about Him, so far He hasn’t forgotten us. I will always be true to God and Country. I am so Grateful for The United States of America.