Freedom

"The flames kindled on the Fourth of July, 1776, have spread over too much of the globe to be extinguished by the feeble engines of despotism; on the contrary, they will consume these engines and all who work them."
Thomas Jefferson



Happy Independence Day!!!!!

---

Indeed

The Title of Liberty

It was a perilous time. War and dissension was all around the land and the people were in danger of falling into the hands of their enimies and into bondage. Yet many wanted to remain free.

Their leader, being a righteous man, was angry with the leader of those that wished to subject the people to bondage and force them to make him their king and the flattering and cunning words he used to accomplish his designs. He, being so angered, made for his people an ensign, or banner, to look toward as a reminder of the covenant they had made with the Lord to maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them.

Upon this banner, the leader wrote these words:

"In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, ourwives, and our children"1

And he called it The Title of Liberty. Whenever the people would travel from city to city they would look for this banner flying from the rooftops and high places to indicate whether or not the city had fallen into the hands of the enemy or remained faithful, thus remaining a free people, being blessed by the Lord.

Almost 2,000 years later, war was again upon the land with the people fighting to break free, yet again, from the bondage of those that demanded to be their king. The people's good and righteous leader had once again had an ensign, or banner, fashioned for the people to look to as a reminder of thosse freedoms they did not want to lose. They had yet again raised a Title of Liberty.

Yet this night, the battle was extremely perilous and those  who from a distance were watching the rockets'  and bombs bursting over the fortified city could not know which army would prevail and become victorious.They had seen the smaller battle flag displayed in the red glare throughout parts of the night, but now all was silent. Only when the mornng came and the sun revealed the colors of the banner flying in the breeze above the fort would they know if they were to remain in bondage or be allowed their desired freedom.

And so they waited and watched, paying that with the dawn's early light they would see the colors of their banner, that the morning's first beam would disclose, in full glory, their Title of Liberty.

And so it was.

And so it yet shall be if we, now almost 290 years later do not forget "that God that made and preserved us a nation."2 

War is still upon land and there are still those that wish to lead us into bondage by subjecting us to their will. We still have this ensign, this banner, this Title Of Liberty, to remind us of "our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children." 

If we will lways remember Him then "the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave o'er t land of the free and the home of the brave!"

(I have searched for about an hour for a good video with all the verses and not just the first but am having a hard time finding a good quality one. I ran across this in my search and decided to use it instead. I was a little disappointed that he didn't know there were more than 2 verses though.)

 

1. Alma 46: 12, The Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ

2.The Star Spangled Banner, Francs Scott Key

---

Indeed.

From sea to shining sea

Up at the crack of dawn, head to the high school to load the marching band. We usually have 5-6 parents to march the parade route with the band and keep them supplied with water. 4 miles in 90+ weather is a loooong way. This year we had 1 dad. 1. I had no idea how we were going to do it with 1 dad and the band and color guard directors.

We got to the parade staging area for marching bands. Someone made the parking lot smaller in the past year. And they were still trying to cram all of the marching bands and their various busses and support vehicles in a parking lot 1/4 the size it was before. Um? problem anyone?

How about when we were in the median of the road waiting our turn to squeeze in and the policeman stopped traffic both ways and then directed the bus coming out of the parking lot to go around us into the opposite lane (headed the wrong direction) and then back behind us into the proper lane? And the reason it was a problem? Either the bus driver was new or not watching, but I was scrambling my feet onto the seat so the fender wouldn't crush me when she hit the suburban.

How she missed us, I have no idea, but if you had put a piece of paper between us and the bus it would have yellow scrapes on one side and silver on the other. After she cleared us the policeman looked at the kid's dad and said, "Wow, just wow". Brandi, in the back seat said, "That was scary" and I just sat in the passenger seat trying to breath again.

We did have a couple more parents meet us at the staging area to walk with the band, so there were enough to keep the band hydrated.

Here are a few pictures from the morning of the 4th.

Oh, Say can you see?

Brandi watching the rest of the parade from the top of the suburban
while we load the band trailer after the parade

Brandi and I waiting for the parade to start.

We got rained on for about 15-20 minutes at the beginning,

then it cleared up and was nice the rest of the morning.

(Brandi has a sour candy in her mouth- I guess they were really

sour by the faces she was making)

Ethan getting parade ready

Jacob
Pre-parade staging field

See those clouds? Don't be fooled.

They dumped water on us for 15 minutes about half an hour after this picture.

Whitney's family went to DC this past week to visit their son that is doing an internship there. They said that the 4th in DC is better than anywhere they have ever been for that celebration. I was thinking- President Obama's daughter, Malia, was born on the 4th of July. She just turned 11. How awesome is that to celebrate your birthday, not only in the nation's capitol, but in the White House? And she gets to do it 3 more times. Lucky her.

I would like to celebrate the 4th in DC sometime. And while that would make a great Where in the World destination, it isn't one of this month's destinations.

The last Where in the World location was indeed, Philadelphia. David wrote a wonderful piece on those men that sacraficed their all to grant us our independence and freedom.

On a side note, I was teaching the 15-17 year olds in Sunday School yesterday. we were discussing Learning through study and faith. I wrote on the chalk board the following: 2+2=? E=mc2 When in the course of human events....

Then I asked the students who could read what was on the board- not will you read but can you read it? Of course they all could. Then I asked them if they knew what it meant or what it was. They all knew the math equation, most of them knew the equation meant energy=mass x the speed of light squared- whatever that means (their words) But only 2 of the 16 knew where the quote came from! I was flabbergasted. I told them to go home and read it. And then read it again.

Today's installment of Where in the World? begins with Spectacular Jousting at Linlithgow Palace, then we can go see Stirling Castle, or Castle Tioram, or Edinburgh Castle. Or we could witness the Clash of the Centuries: The magnificent setting of Caerlaverock Castle provides a great backdrop for a celebration of two thousand years of (this country's) rich history.

Re-enactors from all over _______ will depict Romans, Vikings, Medieval ____, Redcoats and Covenanters right through to the fighting troops of the 20th century in a packed programme of events and activities.

This country is where golf originated. Did you know that the name golf stands for Gentelmen Only Ladies Forbidden? Really.

My children's great great grandfather McGregor was a doctor there before immigrating to America.

My friend Lindsey is living there for a while. I wish I could go for a visit.

And this band was the first in the parade on Saturday. I am including it because 1) it is a hint and 2) Trevor used to play drum in this band

---

Indeed.

Happy Birthday, America

Today we celebrate the birth of a nation. We will go to parades. We will barbeque any number of meats and vegetables. Gourge ourselves on watermelon, cakes, homemade ice cream and root beer and many other sweets.

We might have a family picnic at the lake or go downtown to the fair and purchase baubles at the booths. The kids may even play a game or two outside with each other.

Then when the sun is setting, we will all gather with our lawn chairs, buckets of water and store bought fire works and enjoy our own light show or the one that the city puts on. We will marvel at the beautiful sight of them exploding overhead.

Then we will go to bed, sleep and awaken to another day where we go back to our normally scheduled lives.

Today this post is in honor of all those men and women whose parade is a convoy of military vehicles. Whose picnic is an MRE. Whose fire works are real bombs bursting in air.

Who are my heroes.

I love you both

Be safe

---

Indeed.

Good times

Yesterday was a good day. The boys had marching band and Matt spent the day with Whitney. Jess, Brandi and I went to Logan to my sister's house where we had lunch with her, her family, my niece and my brother and sister-in-law who are visiting from yesterday's Where in the World spot- Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

It has been about 6-7 years since I have seen them. Australia is a long and expensive trip from here. Someday before they move back here I would like to be able to go see them there.

Wynn barbequed meat for all of us, the kids jumped on the trampoline, played with Andy's dog, the grownups chatted and talked and tried to cram everything we wanted to chat about into a few hours. Then Dustin and Cindy left to rest and the girls and I went to a craft store, then a dress shop and then headed home.

All in all it was a pretty good day.

Next Where in the World clue for tomorrow's destination:

The sixth most populous city in the US and carries the nicknames of "City of Brotherly Love", "The City that Loves you Back", "Cradle of Liberty", "The Quaker City", and "The Birthplace of America."
You can see a bronze statue of William Penn or Benjamin Franklin

The Declaration of Independence was debated and adopted here

And the most give away clue- The Liberty Bell can be seen here

Have a happy and safe 4th of July. But during all of your parade and fireworks watching don't forget those that still put their lives on the line everyday to make sure that you still have the privilidge of doing these things. They fight for liberty still. Be aware of what is going on in and around our country and make sure that you also do what needs to be done to preserve those rights and liberty.

And to my sons in Iraq- I love you and am proud of you!

---

Indeed.

Stadium of Fire

I attended the Stadium of Fire on Wed the 4th. It was the best one I have ever been to. I am going to post some of the pictures I took. I don't have the best camera nor am I the best photographer, but some of them turned out pretty good. I might be biased, but the Marine on the far left of the color guard is the most handsome one there. Doesn't he just look great in his dress blues? Sewing his insignia on was not the most fun, but it is worth it to see him in his uniform. And I can hardly wait to see his brother in his blues in Sept.


Color Guard


The flag being flown in


Handsom Color Guard (again)


Corbin Blue


Brooks and Dunn
Who were amazing, but then I like Brooks and Dunn


Now for some fireworks










These looked like they were spraying liquid gold



Ok, I was having a hard time getting a good picture of this Iwo Jima re-enactment/tribute. My son was supposed to be part of this, but one of the men wanted to trade this for color guard. My son later said he was glad he traded because these men had to stand perfectly still for 20 minutes.



Just so you can see the platform they were standing on

Happy Birthday America!

The sight of this large flag still flying over Fort McHenry after a long night of battle inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that became the U.S. national anthem. The flag we now call the Star-Spangled Banner is the very flag that flew over Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore in the fall of 1814.

The Star Spangled Banner

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?


On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!


And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.


O thus be it ever when free-men shall stand
Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd 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!

I hate that we usually only sing the first verse of this great anthem. What is the point of that? The first verse is a question. Why don't we sing the answer to the question, because that is the important part of the song. Without the answer, we are left hanging as to what country controls the fort. (of course we know the answer, but that is not the point. The point would be that we just sing words and don't pay attention to what it is that we sing- that really irritates me and is my biggest pet peeve)







The Few, The Proud
My Stripling Warriors

Please remember on this great and wonderful day, that the freedoms that you are celebrating came at a great cost. Take time to get on your knees and thank our Father in Heaven for those men and women that gave of their blood so that you can live in freedom. They paid the ultimate price for you and for me, let us not forget that. The rockets might be a bit more sophisticated, the foes haughty host may not sleep through the night because they have night vision goggles to help them see. The ramparts are no longer in a fixed position, the bombs still burst- day and night. But our soldiers still fight for that Standard- the Star Spangled Banner, Old Glory to wave o're the land of the free and the home of the brave!