AMERICANISM

AMERICANISM

I'll bet you remember the following wo= rds from grade school and high school. I'll bet they= were drilled into your mind just as thoroughly as they were drilled into mine as= a child: "These are the ti= mes that try men's souls. The sum= mer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, = shrink from the service of his country. But he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."=

What forceful words their eloquence matched only by their power! = What a message they bring the idea that our freedom has a cost, requiring sacrific= e of those who are asked to pay the price!=

Is it any wonder that our teachers wanted us to take these very words with us as we made the journey into adult life from our classes in civics and history?

No. That was no accident. These wo= rds have a meaning that rings in the hearts of the American people. And we = all know the mettle of that eloquent phrasing was tested at a time that won their honored place in our American heritage.

Dangerous and uncertain days faced= the thirteen American colonies when the great patriot, Thomas Paine, spoke these words in 1776.

He knew a special kind of patriotic devotion and love of country was needed if the colonists were going to win their struggle for independence.

That special devotion arose among = our people, helping them form a new nation dedicated to liberty. Today, we call that unique kind of patriotism "Americanism."

For two centuries and more, Americ= anism has kept our country free. With that special quality firing our hearts, we = have flourished in a way unmatched in the World's history.

What is Americanism?

It's much more than patriotism alone, = and it's more sincere than attitudes of self-righteousness. Americanism is the guardian of our Constitution. It's the driving force behind America's desire to prosper as a free nation.=

We notice this intense love of our country most during eras of crisis. At such times, Americanism urges ou= r countrymen to action, rallying them into a single, str= ongly united force.

However, this special emotion isn't something that's whipped up in a moment's notice= . It's som= ething that thrives in the souls of true patriots every day.

The foremost c= haracteristics of Americanism is the willingness of so many of our citizens to make= sacrifices, as individuals...for the good of our nation's people, as a whole.

Such unselfishness is seen most touchingly in the sacrifices of the millions of men and wo= men who died or became disabled while bearing arms in our nation's defense.

In the Disabled American Veterans = and the DAV Auxiliary, they know much about that kind of sacrifice. They know it from the testimony of their own lives and the lives of our loved ones.=

Patriotism is another trait of Americanism. But true patriotism goes beyond the waving of our country's flag and the singing of our National Anthem.

Those are important gestures to be= sure, but true patriotism demands loyalty to the ideals that lie behind th= ose gestures. It calls forth loyalty to the traditions, the institutions and the courage that make our country great.

It is out of patriotism that we ex= ercise the rights we enjoy as Americans rights our Declaration of Independence ass= erts were granted to us by God, rights assured to us = by our Constitution.

We practice Americanism whenever w= e vote or voice our thoughts to our elected representatives. It gives us the coura= ge to say what we believe, even when our words may not be popular. It gives us= the strength to stand for the defense of our nation and its people, risking disability and death.

We also show Americanism when we t= ake pride in our nation's past achievements...and co= mmit ourselves to America's future ambitions.

Those ambitions have always been realized through hard work. And hard work has long been the backbone of American success in production, med= icine, agriculture, and so many other fields of endeavor.

We are a great nation today, not o= nly because of our vast natural resources, but also because of our great nation= al character.

For example, our nation's legendary generosity is a potent feature of the unique national spirit of our people. Numerous government and nonprofit agencies provide assi= stance to people here and abroad in time of need.

The DAV is proud to count itself a= mong those nonprofit organizations, with the special focus on disabled veterans = and their families.

However, if we know how much Ameri= cans give to others as individuals and through the institutions, they've created we also know how seldom those individuals and institutions receive = any thanks for their efforts.

Yet, we Americans remain incredibly generous. Americanism is also= about feelings. It is a treasure ch= est of emotions held in the hearts of the great American people.=

It's a shout of joy at an Olympic gold= medal victory...sorrowful whispers at the death of a national leader...and bitter anger at the false accusations directed at our nation by foreign government= s.

Each of us practices Americanism e= very day in our own way. Members o= f the Disabled American Veterans and its Auxiliary practice Americanism through programs of service to our nation's wartime disabled.

They work hard to ensure that disa= bled veterans and all handicapped people can enjoy the freedoms that are the rig= hts of all Americans. They do this work at the community and state level, as we= ll as in the national forum.

Many DAV and Auxiliary members sho= w Americanism by doing volunteer work at VA hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics. Or they give of their time to drive sick and disabled veterans to VA medical facilities to get the treatment they need.

Making the day= a little brighter for veterans in need! What wonderfu= l ways to show how we feel about our country...and its disabled defenders!

Maybe it's one disabled veteran helping another to learn how to cope with a life overshado= wed by a physical or mental handicap.

Maybe it's the wife or daughter of a disabled veteran offering a kind ear to listen to the trials of another woman at a difficult time of life.

DAV and Auxiliary members believe = it's important to work in the effort to better their communities, help their fellow citizens, and build a better America.

And they do so with a special focus o= n the needs of those disabled in our country's defense...as well as the needs of = the families of those veterans.

Citizens of every nation feel patr= iotism for their country. But the loyalty and love of c= ountry felt by America's citizens are truly unique in today's selfish world.<= /o:p>

That's<= /span> why America is the leader of the = free world. Th= at's why America has prospered and grown to such greatness in a mere two centuri= es. And that= 's why America will continue its world leadership as history writes new chapters in the future.

However, Americanism isn't something born in us. Nor is = it something we can learn from books. It's a feelin= g that must take root in our souls, growing as we experience the meaning of Americ= a in our lives.

It grows stronger as we get older.= And it satisfies a deep desire within our hearts.=

While our nation's citizens hold t= o the high spirit of Americanism, this meaningful emotion cannot reach its full potential unless it is practiced.

And how can we practice Americanism? = The ways are countless, and each American knows best how he or she can show a d= eep, abiding love of our country.

But certainly, as I said, Americanism= is demonstrated in the willingness to vote on Election Day...by making one's v= oice heard through a letter or phone call to one's elected leaders...and by answering the call to defend America and her Constitution in time of war.

Americanism is the willingness to = make personal sacrifices for the good of all of our nation's people.<= /span>

And, in the depths of our souls, it's= the feeling of devotion that overwhelms us as we place our hands over our breas= ts during our National Anthem.

Thank you. God bless each of you. = And God bless

this wonderful nation of ours America!=