VETERAN’S DAY, A CELEBRATION--

The church sanctuary rocked as the combined choirs sang The Battle Hymn of the Republic.

It was one of those moments when eyes teared and shivers ran up and down patriotic spines.

The battle song was the rousing finale to the St. John’s United Church of Christ’s recent Sunday observance of Veteran’s Day 2007.

Earlier, folks dressed in colonial costumes represented the 13 original colonies and depicted the vote to take our yet-to-be country on the dangerous leap into independence. Then, with the flourish of quill pens those same representatives re-enacted the signing of our Declaration of Independence.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness....”

John Hancock’s signature is largest on this document because, with a bounty already placed on his head by the English, Hancock quipped--perhaps the size of his signature would provoke the British officials to double the award.

And with that burst of bravado, our country was born.

The color guard of the 179th Airlift Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard at Mansfield-Lahm Airport (large photo) presented “Dressing the Flag” and brought the audience back to the present time with snappy and very formal, military precision.

The Fun Center Chordsmen presented taps. The bagpiper presented “Amazing Grace”. The audience waved small American flags, some, while dabbing their moist eyes with handkerchiefs.

Fogeyisms tips our hat to the folks at St. John’s for its marvelous program, and...
...If you cherish your freedom today, tip your hat to a veteran.