Patriotism 101

This year's wild fires may have dampened many fireworks plans, but true American patriotism has to be more than just “sky candy,” doesn't it? What is patriotism? And are we really patriotic anymore?

I asked several young men in uniform what patriotism meant to them. To the man, they each humbly replied that they didn't feel like patriots – that they were just doing their job.

I must respectfully disagree with these young men. There isn't a draft; they voluntarily chose their job. In making that career choice, surely the employer they chose was much more important than whatever tasks they complete in an eight-hour shift.

I'm not the only one who has been impressed by some of these young people. Jim Higgins, a military Chaplain currently serving in Iraq, wrote up a touching story and sent it out to friends and family via the Internet. It landed with an impressive thud in my inbox and after a bit of research I feel safe in sharing it with you. Internet sites that exist to debunk myths say it's true, and the soldiers I spoke to confirmed the basic procedure in Iraq . . .

Procedure being that the military shows older movies to off duty personnel (even in Iraq – made me think of M*A*S*H) and in all military theaters the National Anthem is played before every movie.
There is an auditorium used for large gatherings like memorial services and movies at Camp Anaconda north of Baghdad. Chaplain Higgins told of attending a showing of “Superman III” there.

“As is the custom, we stood and snapped to attention when the National Anthem was played.

“All was going as planned until about three-quarters of the way through the National Anthem – the music stopped. Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18 to 22-year-olds back in the States? I imagine there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments and everyone would sit down and call for a movie. Of course, that is, if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place. Here, the 1,000 soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward.

“The music started again. The soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention. And again, at the same point, the music stopped. What would you expect to happen? Even here I would imagine laughter, as everyone finally sat down and expected the movie to start. But you could have heard a pin drop. Every soldier continued to stand at attention.

“Suddenly there was a lone voice, then a dozen, and quickly the room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers, finishing where the recording left off . . .

“It was the most inspiring moment I have had here in Iraq. I wanted you to know what kind of soldiers are serving you here. Remember them as they fight for you!”

What kind of soldiers? Probably the same kind that I spoke to – the ones that do not think of themselves as patriots at all . . .

The best definition of patriot I could find was “someone who loves, supports, and is prepared to serve their country.”

Those soldiers singing our National Anthem in a makeshift movie theater half a world away from home were more than prepared to serve their country – they were doing it.

This Fourth of July let's remember them and remember that patriotism is more than eating homemade ice cream, writing your name with a sparkler, waving a mini flag or having your cheeks painted red, white and blue, once a year.

Patriotism is standing and putting your hand over your heart each and every time our flag goes by in each and every parade; it's voting; it's praying for our military; it's teaching our children to respect people in uniform, and themselves; and it's displaying the flag on your house and on a magnetic ribbon on your car.

Patriotism is all of those things, but most impressively to me it's humbly serving our country and actually knowing the words to “The Star Spangled Banner,” and being brave enough to sing them.

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