Mt. Rushmore and Patriotism

Donna, Inge, and Stella; with Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln in the background

Louisa is holding Donna; our friend, Rachel, is holding Inge; and John, against the backdrop of Mt. Rushmore National Monument.

A mama and young mountain goat along-side a trail at Mt. Rushmore.









Day 3, Wednesday, August 21
We saw Mt. Rushmore, had a picnic lunch, and explored Keystone. Then we came back to our home away from home for supper.

My kids, of course as is typical, made friends with one of the only other campground guests.  This time, Louie from Canada, who is traveling the US for perhaps seven months.  I'm always a bit nervous knowing my kids are so friendly and will talk to pretty much anyone.  But I was thankful that he came over and introduced himself, and we visited a little while.  I know where my kids get their friendly ways.  After Louie returned to his campsite, Joe asked me whether we should invite him to have supper with us. 

Joe gets that gift from his Mom and her parents who make friends wherever they go.  The day our oldest son, Jeremy was born, the rest of the family was hosting a surprise 70th birthday party for Grandpa Kindler.  After the party, Grandma and Grandpa headed west for a little vacation.  I believe they were actually on their way to Portland for an annual Marine Corp gathering of WWII vets who had served together. 

Grandma and Grandpa were hoping to have word of the arrival of their first great-grandbaby before starting out.  But alas there was not yet any news.  When they stopped for supper, they called the hospital to to check in.  As would become apparent, they had shared their joyful news with the other diners.  After Joe's mom told them of Jeremy's arrival, they hollered out, "It's a boy!" which announcement was met with cheers all around.

But returning to the tale of this trip, and to our campground, I was tired.  And we had evening plans.  So I when Joe asked if he could invite Louie, I asked Joe if he would feel too bad if we had a simple family dinner.  Or at least as simple as a family dinner for eleven, cooked over a fire, at a picnic table, with the dishes in a nearby camp bin, and washing up with water heated over the fire can be. 

After said simple family meal, we rushed to get the dishes done quickly, in order to hit the road once more.  We planned an evening trip back Rushmore for the nightly lighting ceremony. Wow, was that good! Really! I'm sad, though, that we didn't get any photos.  We had forgotten the camera in the van. 

The evening started out with a patriotic and informative film which focused on the ideals that has made America great.  And on the four presidents whose faces grace the stone monument, and how these men forwarded American ideals. After that, the big beacon lights were turned on, lighting up the mountain.  The film showed snapshots of our American life. The background music on the film curing that part was a vocal rendition of America the Beautiful. The second and third verses of that anthem never cease to catch me in the back of my throat.

O beautiful for pilgrim feet   Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat   Across the wilderness!
America! America!  God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,  Thy liberty in law!

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!

Those two verses seem to capture much of what is best about America.

A park ranger then came up on the stage and asked us all to stand for the singing of the National Anthem. That was hard enough. Man! I love my country. I think we are a great land that has served humanity well. I feel especially blessed when traveling, seeing all the beauty of the land. Such riches in soil and minerals, and simple beauty to gladden the hearts or man. And the people!  Truly a great and glorious citizenship!

So of course I got all teary-eyed. Inge got a little rambunctious and started climbing around on the benches, which was a good thing. It focused me back on reality, and my job as a mother, rather than continuing to blather over how blessed we are.

But then...

After the National Anthem was over, the Ranger invited all active and retired service members to the front for the colors ceremony. All these many, many people who have served us. Provided our defense. Cared for us. Offered to give their lives if necessary. All these people. Probably close to fifty of them. They got to descend to the stage of the amphitheater. They stood at attention while the ones closes to the flag got to lower it and help fold it. When that was done, the ranger had them all introduce themselves and tell the branch of military of which they are or were a part.

It was very, very touching. Especially at this time of my life. On my way to my son's USMC graduation. I was undone. 

  America the Beautiful
Words by Katharine Lee Bates, Melody by Samuel Ward
  O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

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!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!