You're A Grand Ole Flag

I would say that my family is a musical bunch. I mean, maybe not in the traditional way that some families are. No one had actual lessons for any instruments, aside from band or chorus in school. But our love for music runs deeper than that. Now, I've mentioned that my dad was never around growing up, but he did play the bass, guitar, and piano. He was a natural at it. I'm sure that influenced Sam to pick up a guitar, which he is very good at. But that's not it. I think our love for music came from my mom. She always played classic rock in the car, and I can't speak for the older three, but I know that Michael, Rebekah, and I always sang along with our Mom to the radio. We would even sing parts. Remember that part in Wayne's World? The Queen sing-a-long? That was us, and in fact, we laughed so hard at that movie, because we knew somehow they got that from us. Music has always been a part of my soul, even when I couldn't play the guitar. I even ride around with my kids now, singing songs from the radio, church, or some I just make up to pass the car ride. Sometimes the kids would rather listen to the radio, but most of the time they give the substance for the songs. Today we were on our way to Erick's swim lessons and we passed several American flags and I remembered that growing up, whenever we saw an American flag, we would sing the song You're A Grand Ole Flag. My mom said that she and my dad and the older three would sing that a lot, but since it was kind of pre-me, I just remember it with Mom and us younger 3. It's a great song that instills patriotism and a love for freedom. I told Erick that whenever we saw a flag, we would sing the song. We happened to see quite a lot, which made me proud of my fellow Georgians, and it was really cool to see Erick so excited to see our country's flag. We happen to have one flying in our front yard, and I'm glad that I was brought up with a way to help me learn to love this country and what it really stands for. It made me a little sad to see so many houses without that wonderful symbol of freedom, and I hope that this Fourth of July will bring a sense of urgency to some people that freedom is a privilege and WE have to fight for it, not just a few people who hold positions. My family also sang the Pledge of Allegiance after some of us sang in a Fourth of July choir presentation to veterans several years back. I'm going to teach that song to my kids as well, so that they will also know it and be able to remember what America really stands for.