Happy Birthday, USA!

This photo seems like a logical choice for the 4th of July. The flags are at the entrance to Hieronymus Park and SiBonz needed a looong walk. I talked to her along the trail; telling her how glad I was and how lucky she was to be born here. My mother's parents fled Croatia after the Archduke was assassinated and came here fleeing the war and oppression that followed. My father's family landed on the eastern shores as political prisoners...a mighty mouth runs in the family. Seems their protests did not fall on deaf ears but ears that had the power to kick them the hell out of France. They were firmly ensconced in the 17th century....before the pilgrims in 1620. So my parents...one from an old east coast family and one from a new-comer family in the west...met during WWII in Los Angeles...of course. This huge country was shrunken to a chance meeting in what was then a medium-sized city as my father was just there for a 4-week R&R before going back to the Pacific. My uncles, on the other hand, were all in Europe at that time. There was a wedding. Then along came me...
I have been to all the countries where my dad and uncles went to war. I have friends in each one...friends they couldn't have because they were aiming guns and terrible machines at each other. I love my country and I love theirs...because we have all grown up with that war behind us and shook hands across the oceans and buried our dead on those shores. Together we shake our heads at more futile wars against those who take away human dignity and freedom. 10 years in Viet Nam claimed my schoolmates in horrible numbers. Many more years of strife up to today have claimed my friends' children. And yet I still love my country. I love its people who reach out to those in need during calamity of any kind. I love the freedom of driving across this land with all its riches in golden harvests and shining waters. I love the person who stopped his car when he saw me standing by the roadside taking a picture to show you..."Do you need any help?" "No..thank you. Just taking a picture." " OK...take care. That'll be a pretty picture."
I love the diversity...people from all over the planet...all colors of the human rainbow.
We're not perfect...we're new and fresh and full of spit and vinegar. We've done some bad things and we've done tremendous good...but, by God, some of us at least try to be better than some of those chowderheads in charge in Washington, DC.
I hope when it's my turn to take that Long Dirt Nap, I am still proud of this beautiful place. I hope that flag still flies happily and true.