What a wonderful weekend I had celebrating the U S A‘s 250th birthday. I never felt so proud as I did this weekend. It started with the Progressive Women’s Association Women Of Distinction Luncheon which opened up with the VFW playing taps for those military who gave their lives and continued with the honoring of six women who served in the military. It closed with birthday cake and singing Happy Birthday.
I left there all pumped up and went home and put out a few flags and checked a few programs on television that I knew I would enjoy watching.
While searching for my flags I ran across a photo of my father when he served with the Marines in Nicaragua. This was back in 1922 – 24. My father was an Italian immigrant. Who came to the United States in 1911. He acquired his citizenship and then dreamed of joining the military. He told us the story of his wanting to join the service that he even lied about his birthdate. He would have been 17 and put his date of birth making him 18. We verified this when we got his military records for his retirement and they wanted him to retire a year earlier.
He always told us the story about wanting to join the Marines.He read the Marine enlistment slogan, “The Few, The Proud.” And being the proud man that he was this was where he wanted to go. So he did enlist and it always seemed to make him believe that he was among the few who got to be a Marine.
Why this story? My father was so proud and he instilled this pride in us. He never told us much about Nicaragua but we were always reminded by the presence of his Marine trunk and his uniform. Every time I see a Marine there is a soft spot in my heart.
Fray Queen, my children’s father also served in the military. He joined in 1954 and served in Germany. Although our children did not join the military, they continued to serve our country as elected officials.Senator Ben Queen is the fourth generation to serve our community. I like to think that the pride my father had in this country has been passed down to all the members of our family.
A belated thank you to my dad for his service.
Continuing with the birthday celebration, I am a fireworks and Ferris wheel and merry go round kid at heart. Every time I saw the Ferris wheel in D.C. I relived a lot of childhood memories. I thought about the Merry Go Round I rode at the base of the Eiffel Tower and another located at the Brooklyn Bridge. The Ferris wheel always reminded me of the carnivals at Norwood Park always on the Fourth of July. I watched the fireworks on Bridgeport Hill with my family and especially with my great grandson Arthur. He oohed and ahhed with me with every display. They were beautiful.I guess at 86 I was acting like a child but that’s ok we can all do that if we want to.
My memories are many and my pride in the United States is unsurpassable. I can speak from the heart as I have traveled to Europe many times and many other places that makes me want to shout out to all those who are not proud to be living in this country. We have a lot to be thankful for.
To all my readers continue to celebrate this special birthday, stay healthy, stay cool and until next week”Now You Have Heard It Through The Grapevine.”
