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2019-11-16 -Land of the Free
Grade School Tribute to Veterans - and America
An original post by Bobby.
I have three grandchildren in the same school ‐ forth, third, and first grades. The school is only five years old, in a rapidly-growing Texas suburb. White kids are a minority, with a lot of Indians, Asians, and a few black kids. Something like 80% of the 500+ kids have a corresponding adult in the PTA or otherwise assisting at school ‐ very active adult participation. My wife and I went to a 2:05 p.m. school assembly Friday, to see my third-grade grandson sing.

The program was introduced as a thank you for our veterans. The kids were asked to be especially quiet and respectful, to honor those who have served. The colors were presented by the Cub Scouts (and a girls group, unknown to me). All rose to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and the Texas Pledge. (Having finished our education outside the state, my wife and I did not know the Texas Pledge. It’s shorter, but similar to the one (U.S.) pledge I recited in the third grade.) Then everyone sang the Star-Spangled Banner. I thought we were off to a good start!

The kids sang a number of songs celebrating America. The only song I recognized was halfway through the program, when they twice repeated the chorus of George M. Cohen’s You’re a Grand Old Flag ‐ similar to A Kids Version. If you don’t remember the original, see Wikipedia

In between each song, several kids would line up to say 5-10 words about how much they appreciated America ‐ liberty, freedom, and equality were regular themes.

After a couple of other tunes, they finished the program with something called Fifty Nifty United States. There is also a YouTube version of that, of course - Fifty Nifty. All five grades sung it together, and were rocking out, using their arms to make the shapes of each letter of the states. Texas, of course, was shouted out, as the states were recited.

The group was reminded of the purpose of the assembly and veterans in the room were asked to stand. I saw three or four, including my grandson’s other Grandpa. All 550 kids turned around and saluted the vets, and shouted thank you!

It gives me hope.
Posted by Bobby 2019-11-16 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11139 views ]  Top

#1 Yes. Hope.
Somewhere there must be prog teachers and admin having a hissy. But, they're not in charge.
Posted by Richard Aubrey 2019-11-16 06:04||   2019-11-16 06:04|| Front Page Top

#2 Yes. Hope.
Somewhere there must be prog teachers and admin having a hissy. But, they're not in charge.
Posted by Richard Aubrey 2019-11-16 06:04||   2019-11-16 06:04|| Front Page Top

#3 Bobby, I could hug ya... but I won't. So could my mom... and she would... but she can't. So you're safe. Seriously, thanks for this. Don't get much peer reinforcement for liking this stuff these days.

Wikipedia page on "Grand Old Flag".

Cagney medley clip from "Yankee Doodle Dandy" (1942). Not the lousy old one but a nice sharp print posted by some subversivo on the 4th of July.
Posted by Zorba Unaviling3556 2019-11-16 06:35||   2019-11-16 06:35|| Front Page Top

#4 ^ Thanks! Didn't know Jimmy Cagney could hoof it. He's pretty light on his feet (the tap dancing sequence comes at the end of the video).
Posted by Lex 2019-11-16 07:08||   2019-11-16 07:08|| Front Page Top

#5 Cagney was an old timer that started in Vaudeville
they all could sing and dance up a storm, reaal performers.

I'm old, but not old enough to have seen him for real. Just old B&W movies on TV.
Posted by AlanC 2019-11-16 07:24||   2019-11-16 07:24|| Front Page Top

#6 Looks like he tossed in an Irish jig maneuver there too.
Posted by Lex 2019-11-16 07:26||   2019-11-16 07:26|| Front Page Top

#7 ^ Some of that in this, too (w. Hope, from Seven Little Foys, 1955)

but not here: Taxi! (1932) – Cagney's First On Screen Dance. Nice reversion to type at the end.
Posted by Zorba Unaviling3556 2019-11-16 08:06||   2019-11-16 08:06|| Front Page Top

#8 My grandchildren are 9th generation Texans. I hope and pray their grandchildren will still have a Texas.
Posted by BrujoTejano 2019-11-16 10:04||   2019-11-16 10:04|| Front Page Top

#9 Great post, Bobby.
Posted by Matt 2019-11-16 10:10||   2019-11-16 10:10|| Front Page Top

#10 Nice!
Posted by warthogswife 2019-11-16 12:30||   2019-11-16 12:30|| Front Page Top

12:17 Abu Uluque
12:08 swksvolFF
12:08 ed in texas
12:05 ed in texas
12:01 ed in texas
12:00 ed in texas
11:58 ed in texas
11:56 ed in texas
11:55 Grom the Affective
11:53 Grom the Affective
11:53 ed in texas
11:49 Procopius2k
11:37 magpie
11:33 magpie
11:25 Gliling Hatfield8471
11:23 Bobby
11:20 Bobby
11:06 Procopius2k
11:05 Procopius2k
10:56 Skidmark
10:25 DarthVader
10:20 Matt
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10:16 Matt









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