A patriotic song seldom heard this side of Nashville affirms – “I still believe in America, and I will stand for her down on my knees; I still believe in America, God bless this land of liberty.”
Why, L.D., have you had a sudden change of attitude about this country of ours? Nope. But I have recently had a re-affirmation of why I’m still proud to be an American, in spite of Washington politics and seedy politicians everywhere. One good thing among many others about America, despite local and far distant prognosticators of gloom and doom, is that we can vote those “critters” out, if we’ve got the guts.
Dateline 19 August, 1 p.m. 2011 Texas State Senate Chamber State Capitol building, Austin, Texas. No special session in progress, Hallelujah! Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition! No public fanfare and no local or national press: shoulda’ been. But scenes like this are not often newsworthy but this scene was newsworthy to me and a small group of family and friends gathered to witness it. OK, L.D., witness what? Quit keeping us in suspense.
Well, I may not be able to keep this treatise of American pride to 300 words or less, but here it goes.
The event: The commissioning of recently graduated military officers from U.T., among whom was our step-grandson, one Luca Simone. Luca was born in Sardina, an island off the coast of Italy, but like a lot of us Texans, he got here as quick as he could. Actually, his mama married our oldest son while he was in the United States Air Force stationed across the “pond.” Luca speaks several languages, including English, fluently. He graduated from high school in California, joined the United States Marines and became a naturalized citizen. Don’t tell me it can’t be done. He served no less than two tours of duty in Iraq and earned the rank of “gunny” sergeant. He completed a two-year officer training school at U.T. Austin and now proudly wears the bars of second Lieutenant, United States Marine Corp. and just when Grandma and me were beginin’ ta’ lose faith in the good ole U.S. of A.
L. D. Lindgens
Kyle
