Bolt n Monday

“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

Within these 2016 Rio Olympics there has been some great human interest stories, some have even creeped up from past Olympics thanks to social media. One as such, a video of the fastest man ever timed Jamaica's very own Usain Bolt. A video where Bolt was doing a television interview and paused in mid-interview as America's national anthem was beginning. After standing at attention while the Star Spangled Banner was played he completed his interview at the anthems conclusion. This actually happened during the 2012 Olympics but has resurfaced through social media, perhaps it's because it's what America needs to see right now.

For some reason this act of patriotism, even coming from someone who resides in Jamaica, brought back memories of an event that happened 40 years ago this year. I remember watching as a kid a Sunday afternoon baseball game between my Chicago Cubs and the LA Dodgers. A game where a couple of protestors ran onto the Dodgers playing field and were about to light the American flag on fire. Then suddenly out of nowhere Cubs outfielder Rick Monday whisked by to grab the stars and stripes before the kids could light it on fire.

 

Rick Monday played 19 seasons, 2 all-star games, 2 world series and won one championship, but will forever be known for one of the greatest plays in baseball and American history.

 

"What happened in my playing career will take care of itself. The flag represents the rights and freedoms we all enjoy in this country."

 

Ironically some of America has forgotten these values, just recently in fact. In a small town in New York, a city leader demanded it's fire dept. to remove the American flag from it's fire trucks. Which led to this response from the fire department, "At the time when our country needs unity, to do something like this..it's next to flag burning in my mind."

 

Throughout the many wars in our history men and women sacrificed their lives fighting for our freedom, some soldiers even went to great lengths to display the American flag to declare victory. A victory some take lightly today, unfortunately.

 

The Star Spangled Banner was written by Francis Scott Key, who gained his inspiration from the American flag as he watched soldiers display it triumphantly above Fort McHenry in the war of 1812.

 

Although at most events in America it is only the first stanza of our anthem that is sung or played, the song actually has five stanzas to it, the fifth written by Oliver Wendell Holmes. A stanza America needs to be reminded of today.

 

When our land is illumined with Liberty's smile,

If a foe from within strike a blow at her glory,

Down, down with the traitor that dares to defile

The flag of her stars and the page of her story!

By the millions unchained who our birthright have gained,

We will keep her bright blazon forever unstained!

And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave

While the land of the free is the home of the brave.