Randomly Tonia

When I was in high school we had a career fair of sorts. Recruiters from colleges and all branches of the military came to speak with us about our future plans.

I was drawn to the Air Force, a dream fueled by fierce patriotism and the movie Top Gun (I know it is a Navy movie) and the dream of flying a fighter jet.

After talking with the recruiter, who told me that women were NOT allowed to be fighter pilots (I hope that has changed by now), we engaged in a fairly short but heated conversation.

Shortly, this recruiter determined that I did not have the required temperament to take orders blindly, and a military career was no longer of any interest to me.

Still, I went home that day with a lingering fondness for Top Gun, the movie, and a steadfast admiration for those who have and would serve in the future.

My patriotism, this burning love for our country has never diminished. I am that person who tears up hearing the National Anthem. I have the Pledge of Allegiance memorized – not just the words, but the true meaning behind them.

When my daughter, Jesse, was just eight or nine years old, she wanted to sing me a song she had just learned in school.

There we were waiting for her older sister, and she began singing America the Beautiful. I was instantly speechless.

She continued singing after Kasee got in the minivan and we were on our way home. Folks, to this day I can feel my heart squeezing, the tears burning my eyes and massive lump in my throat as I tried to hold it together until we made it home.

I did not make it. As she began the third verse, I was forced to pull over.

Though I am sure that my kids were slightly embarrassed then, as was I, I could not contain my pride in this nation and in my daughter.

Her achingly beautiful voice sang:

O beautiful for heroes proved

In liberating strife.

Who more than self their country loved

And mercy more than life!

America! America!

May God thy gold refine

Till all success be nobleness

And every gain divine!

With Veteran’s Day here, and the results of the stressful 2016 election behind us, I hope to remind everyone that regardless of the problems in our nation, America has inspired generations and will continue to do so for many generations to come.