Hi Folks… Happy 4th of July!
We kind of take this as a half way mark through the Summer… because just a few weeks and we’re into August – but we’re still in HOT weather… however the wheels of education grind slowly and surely and finely! And before long we’re right back smack into firing up the educational furnaces to pour that molten pig-iron education into those sometime slow on the uptake ‘hard-heads’ – well no… that’s the pose they take – until they get interested in *some* subject.
I sort of remember when I got out of the classroom mode… (and that was when I was getting out of college) – and I suppose why I was not observably very interested in graduate school. For I ‘discovered’ HISTORY once I didn’t have to read 400 pages by the weekend (I don’t suppose it actually *was* that much… it just *seemed* that way.) We were just entering the period of time when ‘grand Civil War re-enactments were taking place.
Radio acting & speech work was my field but I, go to where I really enjoyed reading lots of books about the War Between the States. Found some real gems… and Shelby Foote (a noted novelist) was just commencing his historical trilogy on that War and I got hold of his first book. Also I found some really good (at least I thought so – and I think I still have them around somewhere) booklets put out by the National Park Service. They cost about a dollar each, but were, IMO excellent for me the non-graduate student – to learn a lot about the battles and machinations of the “Waw B’tween ‘th States” – So one of my big hobbies at that time, in addition to starting a family – was visiting battle fields up and down Virginia – the State I happen to be from – and seeing the sights and with my little booklets, fighting the fights.
That’s when I discovered that History ‘can’ be really interesting – indeed, intriguing. I started off writing two, hour-long radio documentaries… scenes I picked out and re-created… and edited into hour long dramatic taped programs. I was going to do one for each year 1861, 1862 and … somewhere along here I lost the time and energy so while WBT in
About that time I was asked to try out for General Stonewall Jackson for a film BJU was making – a full length feature one. And did – and along with my wife we enjoyed that ‘historical’ experience. It was great – and enjoyable…
Well… I went down a rabbit trail on that one… sorry to distract myself. But looking back…. I can wish I had paid more attention to History… and I try to make up for it these days by making late payments. (J)
Have a happy 4th… and thank the Lord for the people He sent our way to make our nation workable and really, in very many ways – WONDERFUL. Praise the Lord for our Freedoms…. And for those who have given so much to make it possible. Thanks to all the guys and gals and families and mothers and fathers who have sent their children to be our protectors. God is wonderful to give us such blessings.
God bless you all – and keep our Nation free UNDER GOD!
Cordially, IN HIM,
Barbara and Jack Buttram
“JUST A MINUTE”
A LONG, LONG TRAIL A-WINDING
Just a Minute: Last week, I noted the legal hair-splitting over adding the two words -- ‘under God’ to our Pledge of Allegiance, originally used in 1892. President Eisenhower signed that legislation into law on June 14th1954 – Flag Day. Just a year before he had been baptized a Presbyterian, for during his early childhood, he’d been a Jehovah’s Witness. Last month – June 13th-- the Supreme Court left standing a New Hampshire court decision the Pledge’s reference to ‘God’ did not violate students’ rights.
I noted last week the lyrics of the STAR SPANGLED BANNER, come from a poem titled “The Defense of Fort McHenry", by the 35-year-old lawyer, and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key -- who witnessed the British bombardment of Fort McHenry while being detained in a Royal Navy Warship in Baltimore. The last stanza of our national anthem, also mentioning God was signed into law March 3rd, 1931, by President Herbert Hoover. It says: “Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just. And this be our motto, ’in God is our trust!’ ”
<> I’m Jack Buttram.
Jebco Editorial Service
www.wmuu.com
E-mail n4zhk@arrl.net
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