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When something good happens to a person, often
he will ask, "Is this a great country, or what?" Every
time I hear those words, they evoke a mental image of Kate Smith
singing "God Bless America" and of the "Stars and
Stripes" fluttering in the breeze.
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I envision lofty snow-capped
mountains, rich green valleys, and mile after mile of fields
of wheat swaying in the wind.
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I think of bustling
cities and tranquil countrysides. I see church steeples and
baseball stadiums.
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I see Fourth of July
parades with Freemasons on floats, Shriners riding funny cars,
and high school bands strutting to "Stars and Stripes
Forever."
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I hear the words of
Patrick Henry saying. "Give me liberty or give me death"
and of Dr. Martin Luther King proclaiming "Free at last,
free at last."
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I see the Washington
monument, the White House, the Liberty Bell, and the Constitution.
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I see the Marines raising
the flag on Iwo Jima and our military forces going ashore
on the beaches of Normandy.
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I see Air Force One
soaring majestically through billowing clouds and the nuclear-powered
aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman, named after our Illustrious
Brother, slicing through the water.
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I hear the Army, Navy,
Marine, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine hymns
all blended into one magnificent crescendo that raises chill
bumps on the back of my neck.
"Is this a great country, or what?" is just a phrase,
a mere seven words, more of a statement than a question. Yet,
it always reminds me of what a great country America is and
what a privilege it is to be an American. When I hear it, my
chest swells with pride, and I emphatically reply:
"You
better believe it is!"
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