Proud to Be An American

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

I grew up in a time and place where we recited the Pledge of Allegiance, hand over heart, each school morning.  The uproar you see now and then suggests that isn't the case any longer.  If that's true, it's a shame.  People should be proud of their country and boldly proclaim it every day.  This simple single sentence of fealty was the beginning of my patriotism.  Following are more things that helped shaped my idea of national pride:

Photo credit: Sharla Cunningham

If tomorrow all the things were gone I'd worked for all my life

and I had to start again with just my children and my wife

I'd thank my lucky stars to be living here today

'cause the flag still stands for freedom and they can't take that away.

And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free.

And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me.

And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today

'cause there ain't no doubt I love this land...

God bless the U.S.A.

From the lakes of Minnesota to the hills of Tennessee,

across the plains of Texas from sea to shining sea.

From Detroit down to Houston and New York to L.A.

there's pride in every American heart and it's time we stand and say:

That I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free.

And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me.

And I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today

'cause there ain't no doubt I love this land...

God bless the U.S.A.

Written and recorded by Lee Greenwood

Picture from: http://www.ldsliberty.org/i-pledge-
allegiance-to-the-title-of-liberty/

And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.

And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land— Moroni's Title of Liberty, Alma 46:12-13

Photo credit: http://www.sonofthesouth.net/
uncle-sam/patriotic-poster.htm

“Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children's children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

“A love for tradition has never weakened a nation, indeed it has strengthened nations in their hour of peril. ” ― Winston Churchill

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from sin and set us free. Amen!" ― Billy Graham