Hail To Our New Patriotism

By Joe Christopher

Part 2
Flags went up everywhere. Stores sold out of flags. Citizens praised their local law enforcement agencies. Disaster relief agencies sprang into action. Americans answered the call. They enlisted in the armed forces, they applied for the FBI and CIA a record pace and they got out in their communities and raised funds and gathered relief supplies for those affected.

I, along with my co-workers and the American Red Cross, manned live broadcasts from Lowes and Hurst Ben Franklin in St George to encourage the residents of Southern Utah to come by and give a “Buck For America”. The overwhelming response was a stirring sight to behold. Our great citizens drove by and gave what they could and we put red white and blue ribbons on their vehicles to show their support for our country and the victims of this outrageous attack. One man gave his $600 IRS rebate check, others gave what they could. Many gave us $100 dollar bills. Now you tell me how often you drive up on a local street and hand a complete stranger $100 or $600 or any money for that matter. This was a sight that all should have been able to see. What a restoration of my faith in my fellow man.

The most touching moment of all for me was when two youngsters that I am guessing at 7 or 8 and 4 or 5 got out of their mom’s car and walked over to us with their contribution. Austin gave us a large pickle jar that was nearly full of coins that we could tell he had been saving for a long-long time. Ashley put her bag full of coins into our collection container and as they walked off, I heard Austin say, “I love that pickle jar”. They then got in their car and mom drove off. What a truly emotional moment that was. We collected over $14,000 in those few hours along with the contributions each night of the Roundup and parade where people demonstrated their generosity.

Let us resolve to continue the passion we have this day for our country and follow the advice of our late President Kennedy when he admonished us to “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”. Let’s put the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer back in our schools. Let’s stop the bickering and walk hand in hand to accomplish our mission. Go get a copy of Kate Smith’s or the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s rendition of God Bless America and sit and listen to it. I challenge you to keep a dry eye. There is nothing like watching your time running out on this earth to assist you in getting your priorities straight.

Let us not forget September 11th and let us stand proud, America.