Please enjoy this essay penned by my beloved mother-in-law, Doris Ann Musser.

America!

The word brings an infusion of warmth to my soul.  It means country, flag, people, freedom, God, beauty, family. Specifically, it includes parades, church spires, massive malls, “Play ball”, Boy Scouts, women’s soccer, majestic mountains, wavy water, small towns, busy workers.

One moment I am bowed down with deep gratitude to God plus respect for the brave.  My gratefulness deepens for those families who, over the years, received the dreaded visit from uniformed officers.  Their window stars reflect lingering pain.

The next moment, memory finds me standing tall with old and wrinkled hands covering a proud heart.  My cracking voice joins the crowd in asking, “Oh, say can you see….?”  No.  I can’t see.  Eyes blurry with tears prevent viewing the flag, but I know it is there.

Americans form a tremendous mass of one melted pot family.  We enjoy various languages, attitudes, expectations, achievements.  We are colorful in skin and actions.  We experience challenges and joys like families of any size.

At any given moment we………..

                     love & antagonize

                          work & goof off

                                 dream & dread

                                          birth & die

                                                 fall & rise

                                                        remember & forget

                                                                 win & lose

                                                                        worship & pray

Imperfect though we are, we reach as far as possible toward perfection.  In spite of wars, problems, miseries, disappointments, broken dreams, fractured families, and inequalities, God’s goodness and grace has sustained us.

We are a motley crew under the care of an organized government…

                    defined by constitution and creed

                             refined by freedom in choices

                                       combined into one inclusive nation

                                                          for the people and by the people.

Thank you, America, for blessing me with so many spiritual and physical blessings.  May God continue to guide you. My prayer is for many individuals in their personal lives and leaders in government positions to seek you as we move into a constantly changing future.

As a small town girl who has lived only 86 years, 200 seems quite old.  God, in His wisdom, deemed it so. Countries much older must consider us upstart children.  We accept that and build on past discoveries to make a brighter future.

America!

                                       So much to explore.

                                        Your wonders…..some ignore.

                                         A land of plenty….plus more.

                                          May your free spirit ever soar!!!   

                              H  A  P  P  Y      B  I  R  T  H  D  A  Y       A  M  E  R  I  C  A