Let's be patriotic again

It strikes me as odd that we have a renewed sense of nationalism and yet there is not more enthusiasm for those organizations that promote patriotism.
Facebook posts are full of messages about making America strong and who doesn’t want that? My own yard was filled with signs (from both parties) asking us to vote for those candidates before the last election.
Each year we cover political meetings such as Monday night’s Lincoln Day Dinner and the most recent Democratic Party dinner.
We cover local government meetings where a great deal of work is done to improve our community.
Yet, so many wonderful organizations that promote America just don’t seem to have the support our country receives on social media.
It is unusual for local government meetings, such as City Council or County Commissioners, to be well attended. When there is a crowd, it usually means someone is unhappy and gathered like-minded people to attend a meeting and prompt discussion about the issue of their concern. And that’s great. We should be involved in local government, even if it means attendng a meeting once or twice a year.
Most years there are local elections, whether it is on the county or city/town level. Most years, Republican and Democratic party leaders work hard to recruit candidates to run with varying success.
True, being an elected official is not an easy task. It can be a thankless job, though not always.
Not long ago, we received a letter to the edtior from a resident praising a county commissioner for taking care of an issue for him. He named the county commissioner and we published that county commissioner’s photo next to the letter. Why? Because it is highly unusual for elected officials on any level to receive praise one-on-one much less in the pages of a newspaper. We are all too familiar with the criticism that is thrown around in the national media. Likewise, we don’t seem to praise out local officials very often.
Two programs recently crossed my desk that deserve our support.
Loyalty Day is coming up May 4th.
Bob Bigley shared this article with us and I pass it on to you:
“Loyalty Day was first observed in 1921 as “Americanization Day to counterbalance Labour Day on May Day (May 1), celebrated in other parts of the world. On May 1, 1930, about 10,000 Veterans of Foreign War members staged a rally at New York’s Union Square to promote Patriotism. Through a resolution adopted in 1949, May 1, evoked into Loyalty Day. Observances began on April 28, 1950, and climaxed on May 1 when more than 5 million people across the nation held rallies.In New York City, more than 100,000 people rallied for America.
“On July 18, 1958, the Congress designated May 1 of each year as Loyalty Day to foster Loyalty and Love of the Country. According to the Legal information Institute, the President is requested to issue a proclamation, calling on United States government officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on Loyalty Day, and inviting the people of the United States to observe Loyalty Day with appropriate ceremonies in schools and other suitable places.
“Here in Brazil, Indiana we celebrate Loyalty Day with a Parade, and a Picnic/Luncheon for all our Clay County Veterans on the 1st Saturday in May.”
In recent years, the crowds along National Avenue have been less than impressive. Wouldn’t it be great if the Loyalty Day Parade crowd was as big as the Christmas parade crowd? Wow!
Another organization that deserves our support is the Sons of the American Revolution, a group akin to the Daughters of the American Revolution.
We so appreciate both thed SAR and DAR but find it ironic that while the men carried the guns in the fight for our Independence in the 1700s, it is the women’s group in Clay County that is more widely known and is better supported by our schools in the 2000s.
Each year, the DAR presents honors to local school children who create projects to demonstrate their knowledge of America.
Cliff Blanchard is president of this area’s SAR chapter.
Cliff tells me the SAR is organized around patriots who fought in the Revolutionalry War while the DAR is organized by counties.
There are just 14 SAR chapters in Indiana. The local chapter covers seven counties and and the national SAR organization offers thousands of dollars in prize money to students through oration and poster contests. Teachers can win thousands of dollars in prize money too.
Guess what? Not one student has entered the SAR contests in recent years. And the contests are not limited to public schools. Home-schooled students and religious school students are eligible too. But not one student or teacher has entered the contests in the west central Indiana area.
I find that unbelievable. I have to think people just haven’t learned about the opportunities available through the SAR.
For more information, go to https://www.sar.org/.
So, let’s show our patriotism, national pride and suggestions to improve our country on social meda and everywhere we can. Let’s wave our flags proudly. Let’s also get behind those organizations that are keeping the principles of America alive!