A Few Take Aways From Yesterday’s Inauguration…

Yesterday’s inauguration was one of seventy-four by forty-five different people.  It was full of formality, patriotic music and tradition.  Wow, is there so much for you to teach your children or learn and reflect on yourself. Here are a few of the notes I took and you probably have a few of your own that aren’t on my list.  It was spectacular and an incredible lesson in how our country transfers power peacefully…

The music!  Take this opportunity to teach your children our patriotic songs.  They may know the Star Spangled Banner from sporting events.  It’s a wonderful song and there are others that express the love of our country, like America The Beautiful” sung by Carrie Underwood and the Battle Hymn of the Republic, sung by the military bands.  Many of the songs played by the military band were from composer, John Phillips Sousa.  Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A,” has been around for a while, but President Donald Trump has used his song at his campaign rallies.  “Hail to the Chief” is a song set aside for the President.  These all are the patriotic songs.  There were some fun songs from the last few days, like YMCA by the Village People. 

Speaking about music, how about Carrie Underwood being about to ‘go on’ when her back up sound didn’t work.  She sang with out music (a cappella) and had the crowd join in with her.  

Traditions like cannons, order, the outgoing and incoming Presidents having tea before riding to the capitol for the swearing in.  The former President leaving on Marine One, the President’s helicopter.  The White House being made ready and turned around in a short period of time so that the new First Family gets settled and ready to go.  

As I watched the ceremony on television at the capitol and observed the paintings of historical events, especially the ones of the Founding Fathers, I thought how proud they would be  that all these years later, few gave this country a chance to survive as a country and look how far the United States of America has come.  We have survived a Civil War, two World Wars pandemics, natural disasters, civil unrest, the Assassination of of two Presidents and a few attempts on others, with two on the current President. the United States still stands.  

Learn with your children about our new President and Vice-President. President Trump’s mother Mary Anne MacLeod was an immigrant from the small town of Tong, on the Isle of Lewis in northern Scotland. There are stories that vary slightly but they all include that she was the youngest of ten children. The island experienced some hard times and after WWI a ship returning to the island/area hit an ice berg and around two hundred young men drowned at sea. These calamities prompted many of the Island’s youth to immigrate to Canada and the United States. President Trump’s mother came to stay with her older sister who lived in New York. She worked at a nanny and later met and married Fred Trump. There are many interesting stories about Donald Trump and his career as a developer in New York City. One of my favorites is the story of how he took over the renovations for the Wollman Ice Rink in Central Park. The renovations had gone way over budget and wasn’t making progress in completion. Trump and his organization took over. They completed the project in record time and under budget. He often tells the story of how he contacted the Canadians who are pros at outdoor ice rinks, rather than re-inventing the wheel.

Vice-President J.D. Vance has an interesting biography. He grew up very poor an is the story of the American Dream. He was mostly raised by his grandparents Papaw and Mamaw and he told the story of his very unique path in a book titled, Hillbilly Elegy, which was made into a movie. The Vice-President is a Marine, veteran of Iraq War, a graduate of Ohio State University and a graduate of Yale Law School. He and his wife Usha have three young childre

On Sunday night, as we watched  the Victory Rally at the Capital One Arena, one of our granddaughters saw the flag and started reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. A short time later, she saw two of the very young grandchildren of President Trump starting to recite the Pledge of Alligance and she started reciting it again.  I was proud of her and it was very apparent that she was proud of herself that she was part of what was going on, as she had a big smile on her face.  

Talk to your children about respecting those who didn’t vote for the same candidate as their parents and other family members did. Explain that in this country everyone has the right to freedom, liberty and justice for all and that includes freedom of speech. Teaching children early on to respect others is important. We can have different views and ideas but there are some things we can all agree on and respect for one another is one of them. Teach children this in the home a they’ll go out into the world respecting others.

I came up with a few vocabulary words for your kids and again, surly, you may have some to add to the list.  Also listed is a few of my favorite Patriotic songs. 

Vocabulary

Blair House-Part of the White House Proper where the incoming President, along with their family stay the night before they are sworn in.  This is a luxurious property where foreign dignitaries stay when they are visiting.  It is ideal for these purposes because of it’s tight security.

The Capitol Rotunda-a large circular room with a dome in the center of the Capitol building.  It was built between 1818 and 1824.  It is where the swearing in ceremony took place on Inauguration Day.  

Arlington National Cemetery-Is a cemetery for U.S. Service members and the location for the Tomb of the Unknown Solider,  a symbolic memorial for for all soldiers who have not been found or identified.  today, there are three service members buried there, originally a grave for an unknown soldier from World War I.  

The Washington Mall-the designated area that Pierre L’Enfant and the Commissioners of the District of Columbia used when referring to the green space they created in the original plans when creating the plans for the United States Capitol City.  Now it also refers to the monuments of the Presidents in Washington D.C..

Oval Office-the Office where the President works in the White House.  

This country is your country and this is your children’s country. Share with them your knowledge of history about our country.  You know more than you think.  Our country has a long rich history and Americans have so much to be proud of. Teach your children to be proud of the country they live in.  They should be proud to be Americans.  Wishing Donald Trump and J.D. Vance good health, and much success with their new administration. May God Bless American.