Am I patriotic? Yes, absolutely! I was raised on patriotism and love for country. We lived outside of Philadephia in 1976, so my entire fourth-grade year was spent on field trips to places like Independence Hall and Valley Forge. I loved living so close to where our nation was born including celebrating our Bicentennial just about 25 miles away from where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
That day is lodged firmly in my memory. My brother was toying with the idea of being a drummer, so he had a snare drum in his room. My mom took that and fitted it with a strap. She gave my sister, Suzy, a recorder and she learned to play a patriotic tune on it. My oldest sister, Holly, carried a flag, and all three of us, dressed like the three men in the classic painting, marched up and down our street – Suzy tweeting on the recorder, me rat-a-tat-tatting on the drum and Holly carrying the flag. People came out of their houses to clap and cheer for us – and for America. It’s a beautiful memory.
So, what is patriotism? It’s putting your country first and doing what’s right for it, even if it might be uncomfortable for you. It’s celebrating all that makes it wonderful and beautiful, including its history and traditions. It’s embracing the country, flaws and all, knowing that it’s your home and a place that connects you to the millions of others who also call it home. It’s why every morning, regardless of what my students do, I stand and face the flag, place my hand over my heart and say the Pledge of Allegiance.
So, yes, I’m patriotic. I love the United States of America and I thank God every day that he made this my home.
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