Ken Vickers
It was just perfect
My wife insisted I accompany her to the Honors Program at Coffee High School recently. We were seated in the auditorium along with maybe a hundred other parents, many of whom I thought were as disinterested as I was, at least at first. Not that I don’t care, mind you, but I had already been to several of these programs in the past and didn’t think my presence was required at this one. My wife did, however, and that was that.
My son, Schuyler, is a choir member and he and the rest of the choir members filed into the auditorium and lined up. The announcer asked that we all stand for the National Anthem and then the choir began to sing, acapella, and I have never heard a more beautiful rendition of our National Anthem. It was wonderful. A chill ran up my spine and made me straighten my posture out of respect for all the sacrifices made by so many since our nation’s beginning.
When the song ended I so hoped that no ignoramus would give a catcall or yell out something or begin to applaud. Thank God not a sound was made, not a word or whisper; just reverent silence. Finally, the announcer asked that we remain standing for the invocation, which was given in good order.
As all this was taking place, a sense of great pride filled me and I said a silent prayer of thanks to God for our much maligned public high school and the teachers that do such a great job under some difficult circumstances. I was glad my wife had insisted I come along. I realized once again that our land is filled with good people and that I must believe there are still more good people than bad. That most children are not like so many of the miscreants we see on the TV or on the street, that not all parents are unconcerned, but that most parents love their children and want them to do well in life and are willing to help their young in whatever way will ensure success.
Here we were; rich and not so rich, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Hindu, Christian, Jew and Muslim, in a simple but elegant ceremony honoring America, Almighty God, and the best and brightest of our children, and all of this in perfect order.
God, Patriotism, and guns made this country the greatest free nation that has ever existed. With young people like the ones I saw honored this day, maybe Old Glory will continue to wave.
I couldn’t help but wonder what the ACLU would think about all this. It’s a good thing none of them were there or if they were that they kept their mouth shut.
I wish an ACLU member had been there and that after the ceremony we’d had a drawing for a hunting rifle. I could have helped them up after they fainted. It couldn’t possibly have gotten any better than that.
In truth, it was perfect just like it was.
When the song ended I so hoped that no ignoramus would give a catcall or yell out something or begin to applaud. Thank God not a sound was made, not a word or whisper; just reverent silence. Finally, the announcer asked that we remain standing for the invocation, which was given in good order.
As all this was taking place, a sense of great pride filled me and I said a silent prayer of thanks to God for our much maligned public high school and the teachers that do such a great job under some difficult circumstances. I was glad my wife had insisted I come along. I realized once again that our land is filled with good people and that I must believe there are still more good people than bad. That most children are not like so many of the miscreants we see on the TV or on the street, that not all parents are unconcerned, but that most parents love their children and want them to do well in life and are willing to help their young in whatever way will ensure success.
Here we were; rich and not so rich, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Hindu, Christian, Jew and Muslim, in a simple but elegant ceremony honoring America, Almighty God, and the best and brightest of our children, and all of this in perfect order.
God, Patriotism, and guns made this country the greatest free nation that has ever existed. With young people like the ones I saw honored this day, maybe Old Glory will continue to wave.
I couldn’t help but wonder what the ACLU would think about all this. It’s a good thing none of them were there or if they were that they kept their mouth shut.
I wish an ACLU member had been there and that after the ceremony we’d had a drawing for a hunting rifle. I could have helped them up after they fainted. It couldn’t possibly have gotten any better than that.
In truth, it was perfect just like it was.
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