My principal in elementary school must be rolling over in his grave. Today, the Pledge of Allegiance is not necessarily a daily routine; few school children across our nation can recite it. Some districts suggest that replacing older, thread-worn flags isn’t in the budget, so they do not exist in all classrooms.
But for the children attending Laurel Elementary in the fifties and sixties, the Pledge was recited daily and immediately followed by our principal Mr. K’s favorite song, “I Love You, California” at each and every assembly. We all groaned but we sang it loud and clear, never once realizing what made this song so great. It was years later before I fully realized the song’s importance. Mr. K was a veteran of World War II; in his eyes, we children had good reason to sing about the wonders and fullness of our Golden State.
UPDATE: MAY, 2022
Dear Readers:
These are two veterans’ organizations that serve our military families past and present that I am particularly fond of! One is Honor Flight which transports WWII, Korean and now also Vietnam Vets to Washington D.C. to visit their respective war memorials. The other is Veterans Airlift Command, a group of volunteer pilots who transports our current wounded military members’ families to the hospital (often several hundred miles from home) in fully modified planes to accommodate the loved ones and, upon release, their very own hero or heroine in perfect comfort!
Our service men and women serve year round and their needs are greater than the traditional May and November months in which they are traditionally remembered; please give WHATEVER you can, WHENEVER you can, to an organization of your choice. Remember that within any gift in any form you share, the smiles are free…
the FrogHavenLady xoxox