Blessed
is the nation whose God
is
the Lord....
Psalm
33:12a
The
story is told of Golman Meyers who many years ago, lived in Cades
Cove, my favorite place in our mountains. On Pearl Harbor Day, the
day our country was attacked by the Japanese, he planted a small tree
in his front yard and said to his family, “We will remember this
day forever.”
Amazingly,
that tree still stands strong and very tall. There is a metal tag
attached to a chain that goes around the bottom of the tree with his
name and date on. If one climbs the hill leading to the tree (after
catching one's breath) it is a sobering experience depending on the
age of the hiker. Directions to the tree can be found by looking up
“Pearl Harbor Tree” on Google.
It
was at that terrible time I really came to my awareness as a human
being. It was December and I was to be three years old in January.
However, suddenly, everyone around me was very disturbed and even in
tears. Little people don't like seeing adults in their lives crying.
At one point, Mother was in the yard with Mrs. Rennie from next.
They were teary and were talking about “pearls.” I knew they
both had pearl necklaces as most women in that day did. I was
assured their necklaces weren't broken. It took a few more years
before learning that “Pearl” Harbor was an actual place where
some terrible things took place.
Life
changed in our small town. Men rushed to the train station to ride
to Chicago to the enlistment office. My Dad went with them, but he
returned home a couple of days later. He didn't pass the physical
because of a deformed finger. As he got off the train, both he and
my mom cried. To that day, I had never seen both of my parents cry
together.
Our
nation was VERY patriotic in those days. There were flags flying all
over the place, people pitched in to save in every way to help with
the war effort....saved tin cans, saved newspapers and some grew huge
“victory gardens.” Many food items were rationed so those things
were purchased with money and a certain amount of stamps. Looking
back, I've never seen our citizens that close during war time even
up to this day. When soldiers returned home, they were all but
idolized. Many of them didn't want to talk about their war
experiences, but they still regarded as being our heroes. The flag
continued to fly high and with respect.
Last
week, I learned the location of the Pearl Harbor Tree in Cades Cove.
Told Brian that we just had to go. Inside there was a part of me
that returned to those 3-5 year old years. I had a small flag in our
bedroom I got somewhere in Texas and had brought it with me when we
moved. I couldn't wait to take my flag to that old, precious tree to
put it with the others that are there.
We
made the trip the next day. From the road, it isn't far to the tree,
but it's a pretty steep climb. We made it and there it was with a
large-link chain around the bottom and on it, the info tag and flags
others had brought to pay respect to the day and that special time in
our country. Brian broke the stick for me as it was too long on the
flag and I put it in one of the links of the chain that is secured on
the tree. There's no way to express the emotion I felt, the emotions
of a very little girl who lived in a hard, but wonderful time, who is
now encased in a much older body.
It
has always bothered me seeing the disrespect rioters and others often
show for our flag.. Our flag is burned in some of our streets and in
the streets of foreign countries where America has been good to
folks. Our flag is often our signal. At times, our flag can be
found flying at half mast. It lets us know of some special, usually
sorrowful event that has occurred in our country. For me, that's a
signal to pray. Many, during that long ago war time,had small flags
on their porches as America entered the war brought on by Pearl
Harbor events. For most in our day, such a special day was 9/11.
Both had the same effect for many depending on their ages. No matter
the time or event, usually the flags come out and fly with great
pride.
Thanks
Mr. Meyers, for planting that special tree in your front yard. This
80 (3-5) year old will remember that day of finding it as long as I
live.
Dear
Father, thank You for the privilege of being an American citizen. I
could have been born anywhere else in the world but, you chose this
place and life for me. I thank You for the freedom and influence we
know as citizens. May we get back to being the Christian place our
forefathers intended. In Jesus precious name....Amen
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