We are the home of heroes, every color, every size
But who are those now making this effort to minimize ?
It’s been our own courageous patriots who’ve built this land
A place where citizens can work together hand in hand
This homeland where the people have the freedom and the choice
To fly the flag, sing the song, say the pledge or raise their voice !
Integrity is but a show
With many icons that we know
How sad too few ever get caught
With values they should have been taught
Why are we mute or silenced there
Have we no one to grieve or care ?
A crime, so many victimized
While efforts all are minimized
Our world is begging on its knees
Save us before all justice flees !
There is a place where I can see
This nation’s flag wave over me
The flag it flies with colors bright
It is an oh so wondrous sight
And promises this great surprise
To open every stranger’s eyes
Instilling confidence and pride
With love that wells up deep inside
Old Glory may she ever wave
And all our dreams, help us to save !
I love you Mom, you’ll always be
My whole life through, a part of me.
All that I know and learned from you
Those lessons taught honest and true,
A kindly heart and pleasant way
The smile that starts and ends each day
A will to speak with joy and ease
The need to help, an aim to please.
These are the rules you set in place
I promise you, I will embrace !
Now I have trudged this rocky path
With angry crowds so full of wrath
I really don’t know what to think
Seems sanity is on the brink
There’s not much left to make great sense
The climate has become intense.
Participants are so inclined
Pretending to be dumb and blind
But stop before one does the deed
The rule in hand all must concede
The Lord demands that he alone
Who sinless be, cast the first stone !
I’m told that justice is quite blind
In all the truths that man does find
She is the judge who may deceive
But yet the one most will believe !
How sad that she must blinded be
Throughout the world’s vast infamy
Unfaithful to her name indeed
And traitor to her precious creed !
With all the nonsense we do see
We’re so thankful for our country
We have so much just look around
It is the finest to be found.
One nation of the brave and free
A bastion of our liberty
Which many now scheme to destroy
Whatever methods they’ll employ.
In truth our God is always there
To answer our unending prayer
And keep us safe no matter what
We pledge our lives and all we’ve got !
There is a joy that giving brings
Among all life’s vast happenings
Love of family and of faith
The need for God to keep us safe
In hope that we may overcome
The evil we’re escaping from.
The sense to know that God is there
To hear our every hope and prayer
Perhaps this time we’ll get it straight
And all wind up at Heaven’s Gate !
I often think no matter what
That I will give all that I’ve got
And pray that I’m much better than
Some mediocre protest plan !
I’ll stand up for the land I love
Her people that I am proud of
Her flag and constitution too
The honor of red, white and blue
I sure hope most will join with me
To fight to keep our liberty !
EXCUSE ME but that’s my song they’re playing ! This morning at 5:58 AM, I was astounded by a tasteful display of the Star Spangled Banner, a beautiful panorama of Martin Luther King Jr., a montage of war memorials in D.C. and a moment of silence. All of this on Fox Cable Network News TV as they commenced morning broadcasting. I almost jolted out of bed however people my age never jolt anywhere at anytime ! I sat, I rose, I appreciated ! Well now here am I sharing this experience with my world at large, no basket over this light ! It’s like a reveille call. I do not know if it qualifies, but I’m going to enjoy this show and thank the new incoming administration for reviving our waning patriotism ! Perhaps there is the hope that it is catching. That would be heartening, thank you ! I already feel 10 pounds lighter, how about you ? Sincerely, Claire B.
One thing I’ve learned and must never forget
That here in my path is a challenge yet
There is too much to see and much to do
Before my turn here on this earth is through !
My heart is full of Yuletide dreams
I’m not quite sure what it all means
This year is ending soon it seems
And I’m caught up in winter scenes.
There is a quiver in the trees
My faith endures, my soul perceives
It whispers soft into the breeze
Thank you dear Lord, my world believes !
Laughter breeds so many joyous things
Your eyes will smile as your heart grows wings
The air feels clean and the dawn glows bright
Because we’ve survived the darkest night.
We have risen to the heights of hope
While rapidly learning how to cope
Our dreams remain a moment away
They are the fruits for another day !
I’d like to say that I know all
The promises I should recall
But since I was a tiny tot
It seems to me there were a lot.
While childhood was to home confined
I promised that I’d always mind
In Sunday school I swore that I
Would love the Lord and never lie.
Then as I grew and went to school
I pledged the flag and golden rule
When I was twelve, Girl Scouts came next
I took the vows and learned the text.
Now at thirteen I was confirmed
That’s where Commandments all were learned
High School became a brand new stage
I entered in another age.
I’d like to think I’ve done my best
For family, God and the rest
As truth and faith, integrity
Mean everything on earth to me !
To all God’s children far and wide
I’ve known the fear that looms inside
Tis difficult, the younger years
That harbor pain, defeat or tears.
Sometimes it seems a miracle
If you should ever make it through
Remember always keep your stride
And live with dignity and pride.
Be kind to those whom you pass by
Give none cause to be hurt or cry
Try your best, pray, you will be heard
So praise the Lord and keep His word !
I’ve tarried long on this troubled road
And carried much of it’s heavy load
I’ve pushed and pulled and shoved far too hard
And buried my dreams in God’s backyard.
But dreams are not what it’s all about
It’s the values we share without doubt
And the courage it takes to do right
Even when deeds are beyond all sight !
I’ve come to God’s altar with truth, honor and love
Expecting fair judgement from the powers above !
I see the flag that flies o’erhead
Red, white and blue as truth be said
This banner that forever waves
Our dignity and honor saves.
How proudly should we all observe
Respect for truth while valor serve
I’m glad to do all that I can
Because I am American !
When I was young and eager and my world was oh so new
I fell in love with ideals as young persons often do
And found myself those heroes I would keep my whole life through
Now one of those was Nehru, to his values he was true
Then there’s Walter Reuther whose murder didn’t spin a clue,
General George Patton, the hero all red, white and blue !
Who recalls Doug MacArthur and the victories he drew
As he saved wartorn nations for the many from the few
Next came Kenneth Galbraith and economies that grew.
Teddy Roosevelt was keen and a giant prone to spew
Who made Panama Canal a reality to view,
Then Christ who made the promise I’m still looking forward to !
How sweet life was just years ago
Before we each began to grow
Into the adults we now are
Although a few have gone too far.
Where did our faith and fairness go
And when will truth and justice show,
The coddled mass lacks common sense
How can they share in our defense ?
With hands outstretched await their turn
And ne’er a thought their bread to earn
So foolish they all seem to be
To sacrifice their dignity !
There is this fact that I have found
To keep my feet upon the ground
We’re all the same from inside out
We think, we feel and move about
There is a code that matches few
To thine ownself be ever true !
When we were young and loved so true
The words we whispered were “I do”
To swear the truth or honor still
The vows we’ve pledged is that “I will”.
To do our duty, follow through
The words “I can” belong there too
And when the cause is fair and just
The answer should be this “I must”
Thus those statements we’ve said or heard
Become part of our sacred word !
On the cliffs above that sandy beach
Learn a lesson only sight can teach
It’s a vast stretch of a foreign land
That belongs to us, in our command
And each time I’m there my heart does cry
For buried men who cannot reply.
Ten thousand erect markers still stand
So faraway from their own homeland
On American soil by that beach
That’s as far as they would ever reach !
There was a boy twas just a youth
Who in his life did honor truth
Integrity was his true bag
He loved his country and its flag.
They told him he was needed so
It’s off to war that he must go
And there was he, he went to war
He’d never held a gun before.
Since neither kith nor kin had he
The service was his family
His honor served him through those years
He did his duty without fears.
In one last charge as lives were lost
These men all shared the final cost
Broken bones in a tomb of stone
Engraved thereon one word, unknown !
Be still my heart nay do not speak
The angels know tis whom I seek
The time is come twill be quite soon
Just keep your eye fixed on the moon
And when the color turns to red
It is the time of which it’s said
Our Lord and Savior will return
To cleanse this earth and evil burn
Thus should I die before His task
Remember me is all I ask !
There’s so much now that used to be
A segment of our history
Forgotten days and glory old
When men who ruled were brave and bold.
They raised our hopes and promised dreams
None have the courage now it seems
Their service is with lips alone
Mass fallacies which they intone.
God save us from the hypocrite
With whom no honor cares to sit
Return us to our glory days
Help us redeem our honest ways !
A tiny craft upon the sea
To challenge private destiny
That faces forward to the sun
Before the close of day is done,
The will to live with honesty
Ambition and alacrity !
Oh where, oh where has Johnny gone
Is he back home upon the farm
Or has he found another way
To guide his life from day to day ?
What do you seek my darling boy
To help you more your life enjoy
What wonder is there left for you
Or miracles that you may do ?
I pray you give it greater thought
That in the web you won’t be caught
And render unto God your King
Obedience in everything !
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 | 31 | ||||
Claire V. Bogdanos 