Thanks you guys!

When Mr. Fred cranked both flags to the top of the huge flag pole, and the wind took them both and made them fly in the morning sunshine, I knew it was gonna be a good day. All 600 of us, or so, gathered at the front of the school, what we call Wildcat Hall. Me with a microphone attached to two speakers propped on small student desks, next to the planters where the sweet potatoe vines are looking pretty cold, and the orange extention cord disappearing through the front door of the school.There's nothing like 550 children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing the national anthem on a beautiful fall morning.

Then 30 or so students introduced their grandpas and grandmas, great grandpas and uncles, neighbors, moms and dads who served our country in the armed forces, passing the microphone one to the other, with their veteran hovering close behind to help fill in the details; the Euopean Theater, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm; Marine Corps, Navy, National Guard. One tiny girl introduced her dad, who couldn't join us today because he's in Iraq. Again. Several of the oldest generation wore caps or jackets from their uniforms, all those years ago. I wonder if they put them away carefully in their drawers and closets and hope someone will invite them to a Veteran's Day remembrance, so that, one more year, they can pull them out and proudly put them on.

Then we sang, "Oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain...God shed His grace on thee."

Yeah, that about describes it.