Ideas For My Pocket: a Support Group for Families: Let’s Raise Patriots!

One day, my Junior high-aged son came home from school and commented casually, “My teacher said that Columbus was bad for the Indians.” I was horrified! I set out to set him straight! Columbus was raised up by God, to discover America. He was led across the ocean, even when it was uncharted, to an unknown land and it all took so much courage! His own crew was so scared for their lives that they gave him an ultimatum and he had only three days left before they threatened to turn around. Then, one night as he continually watched for land, he saw a tiny flickering light which led him to the distant shore ahead.

It was later on, I insisted, that explorers brought small pox and other new diseases to the Indians, men who came only from greed and to overtake the Indians. That wasn’t Columbus. He knew that God had a mission for him. He did not come to slay or take over. Yes, he had a commitment to bring back gold to repay for his voyages. But that was largely undone. He spent his life in exploration to find the best route and the best port for future, peaceful inhabitants. Columbus was a tool for God to raise up a free land, for the eventual Restoration of the Gospel!

I hope my son listened carefully to the true story I set out to tell him and to weed out the falsehoods. I hope I inspired him to realize what a hero Columbus really was. But I was disappointed in myself. Many years back, I had learned an important thing: Children generally believe the first thing they are told. When parents teach them the truth first, before they get the world’s current version of a story, then they respond—at least internally—“But my mom and dad said that this is what really happened.” But if we are slow to teach and just wait to correct later, their response to us is, “But my teacher said that this is what really happened.” We must start very young to teach the truth. To teach faith and goodness and the honorable accomplishments of heroes past.

There is a huge current trend of hero-bashing, bringing heroes down to much more human level and bringing out their weaknesses. When some label the amazing events-- even miracles-- as simply urban legends, we start to doubt all history that is good and courageous. Getting caught up on which details may not be totally fact makes us feel to discount it all and become cynical pessimists. I think this is very sad. I hope I am not remembered for my weaknesses, but for the good things I tried to do. I want to remember, and pass on, the Courage, the Extraordinary, the Seasons of Greatness of people who really lived. I want Heroes for my children, yes ordinary people in many ways, but excellent in special ways, even Instruments in the hands of God to bless His children on earth.

I used to be better at anticipating the approach of Columbus Day and teaching my children all the good about Columbus. When President’s Day was approaching, I would teach them the stories that are no longer in textbooks, such as “The Bulletproof George Washington.” In this story, which took place during the French and Indian War, George Washington was shot at many times and remained unharmed even when the other officers on horseback were shot down as easy targets. He wrote his brother a letter, telling him of finding four bullet holes in his coat, but remaining untouched. One Indian chief reported that he himself was determined to shoot this officer, but upon observing that he was surely protected by the Great Spirit, refused to continue and restrained his men also from aiming at the man the Great Spirit was protecting. See Bulletproof George Washington..

I have read to them the accounts of what happened to the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, to help them realize the huge cost of freedom. I must continue to teach, teach, teach that my children may grow up without cynicism and with a pure love for greatness. Let us teach of the sacrifice and the greatness, and leave behind the negative or it will be what is passed on, leaving a culture with little faith.

Just this summer, my young son had just read a book about Thomas Edison. It was from the series “Childhood of Famous Americans,” wonderful books about many great people of the past and their early days. A budding inventor himself, my son was inspired by this young boy that loved to learn about everything . He was also inspired by the struggles Edison went through to develop his inventions. The very day he finished the book, a neighbor came up to talk to Mark and casually brought up, ”You know I have heard that Thomas Edison was not such a great man after all….” My son’s ears pricked up, shocked by what he heard. Later that night, I talked to him about it, striving to save his hero! “Thomas Edison did not have the gospel in his life. He didn’t know much of what we know, and he likely made some mistakes in his life. We all do.” I said, “But is that what we want people to remember about us? Is that what the Lord remembers about us? No. He died so we can repent of the things we do wrong. The Lord raised up Thomas Edison to invent the light bulb. Look at all the wonderful lights we have today, in our churches, on our streets to make them safer, and all the beautiful lights at Christmastime. That is the important thing. He had greatness, especially in his perseverance, trying over and over and over until he finally succeeded. That is what we remember and talk about. It is sad when people try to bash others.” I like to ask myself, What is their intent? Is it to develop faith and promote goodness? If not, let’s seek for the parts of someone’s life which are of good report or praiseworthy.

A new item is being developed, a “True Hero” t-shirt that includes 10 quotes from Founding Fathers.

More good books we have enjoyed about the Patriot Heroes: Johnny Tremaine, Across Five Aprils, Abraham Lincoln: God’s Humble Instrument, and Seven Miracles that Saved America: Why they Matter and Why we should have Hope. I have been amazed that even my young children can follow pretty well when I read these great stories, which have become a part of them.

Ideas Families have Tried:

2. Family Friendly Holidays!

We don’t need to spend a lot to have a great holiday. We fly our flags, of course. It is fun to buy some different food that you don’t usually eat, color coding it with the holiday. Our favorite is red, white, and blue waffles, which we make on July 4th. They are just our regular wheat waffles, topped with cherry pie filling, blueberry pie filling, and the fun kind of whipped cream that each can spray. Another fun patriotic treat is a cake topped with strawberries, blueberries and bananas that looks like a flag!

A Kickball game on a hot summer holiday is made fun with wading pools for the bases and slip n slides for in between them! Ultimate Frisbee can include the entire family when the rules require each member to touch the Frisbee before a goal can count! Around the World ping pong is a way to involve everyone, especially if no one keeps score, we all just see how long we can go without a miss!

The Clark family knows how to watch a Parade with style! They gather all the extended family and watch a parade as a big group or dress up and decorate wagons or a flatbed and be in the parade together! But when they watch, they Cheer. They yell and clap and shoot off enthusiasm! They wave flags. Mostly, they Yell and Wave with Gusto to every single participant in every single entry in that parade. It is an experience and a joy to watch a parade next to the Clarks!!

“Take Your Hat Off When the Flag Goes By” is fun music for kids that teaches about patriotism and our government through song. Written by Janice Kapp Perry, it is a patriotic presentation recorded in song and word, that kids learn and remember. Schoolhouse Rock CDs also contain good information about the government and history in fun songs and cartoons.

Shannon loved the time her family got to hear The Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform some great patriotic music. She found she could access their fabulous patriotic programs, found near holidays, on their “Music and the Spoken Word.” The moving stories are printed on their website and the inspiring music can be heard on rebroadcasts too. She decided to play them for her family on Sunday afternoons. See Mormon Tabernacle Choir home page.

Lisa loves to sing with her family the wonderful songs about America, such as “And the dream Goes On,” “God Bless the USA” and the old favorites “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “This Land is Your Land,” “God Bless America,” and “America.” Her family sings together in the car as they ride to go watch fireworks. They sing the patriotic songs on the days leading up to the holiday, and all through the year. She inspires them to sing with feeling.

Olivia wanted to inspire her kids to appreciate the national anthem. She taught her kids what “Hailed” means, what “Ramparts” are, and what “Gallantly Streaming” means. She and Rick taught her kids why we stand when we sing it and when and why we place our hands over our hearts.

Olivia also taught them the story behind the song, that America was just a new country when the War of 1812 hit, and this war was a test to see if they could really pull together and make it as a new democracy. Francis Scott Key spent an anxious night held captive on an enemy ship, watching the fort be fired on, wondering if we would give up and surrender or hold fast. Oh, what joy he felt when with the first rays of the sun, he saw the flag still up. It was full of holes from the explosives aimed at it, but it still waved proudly. He knew it was going to be okay, that America would stand. We too should feel the gratitude for our great, free country when we sing our national anthem.

4. Teach the cost of Freedom

There are wonderful stories in everyone’s past about people who tamed and settled the land, enduring hardship for those that would follow. And throughout history, there are those that served in the armed forces to protect our freedoms.

Patsy likes to ask her grandfathers or cousins who fought to come and share their stories. Further, she found a wonderful arsenal of great stories in Family Search. Her desire is to teach the enormous cost of the great freedoms we have today.

It took great courage to sign the Declaration of Independence. The Signers knew it was considered treason against the King to sign and the punishment for High Treason was to be drawn, quartered and hanged. Vicki Jo Anderson took on a special assignment to research the lives of the other, not as well known signers of the Declaration. Her book, The Other Eminent Men of Wilford Woodruff is a compilation of her research.

5. Use the Occasions.

Whenever Jill is driving with her children and they see a flag, she will ask them, “Why is the flag flying today?” That gives her the opportunity to tell the Story behind the occasion. “It is Flag Day today,” she will say, and then tell them of Betsy Ross and the very first flag. That might lead to how our flag has changed through the years and what the stars and the stripes stand for.

Ginny likes to talk to her kids about Elections and let them participate in the election process. She and Brad talked to their kids about the issues and how they figured out the best way to vote. They let them stay up to watch the election results or look them up the next day. In fact, when other members of her family decided to apply for an early ballot for convenience, Ginny decided not to. She wanted to take her children with her to the polls to observe the process and feel its importance. She wanted to wear proudly her sticker “I Voted Today” so they would see that voting is important.

6. Teach about the Constitution

Abby recently picked up a book about President John Tyler since her son shared his name and had heard negative about him. He was not a real popular president, but she was delighted to find out some great qualities of this man, who believed strongly in the Constitution. He was elected Vice President in 1840 and one week later, President Harrison died in office. As it was the first time this had happened, no one knew just what to do. There was strong pressure from Congress and his Cabinet to call him “Vice President, Acting President” and that he must let them dictate all that he could do. “No,” he insisted, “If I am not a strong leader, then our balance as set forth in the Constitution will be gone, the executive branch losing its power to the legislative branch.” He took his place, appointed his cabinet, and asserted his veto power as he thought best. When asked to resign, he answered, “My resignation would amount to a declaration that our system of government has failed.” He persevered and saved the Checks and Balances as outlined in the Constitution! It was great for Abby to show such greatness to her son and teach him more about our great Constitution. See Encyclopedia of Presidents: John Tyler

When Supreme Court cases come up, Abby and Josh talk them over with their kids. It is another way to teach, in very current ways, the continuing greatness of America’s Constitution and to inspire Gratitude for such an inspired document.

The Roberts family read the constitution together, as part of a Boy Scout special badge offered to the troop. It was another way to promote patriotism and inspire gratitude for such an inspired document.

7. Teach the Etiquette and the Respect

Maggie makes sure her family takes down their flag before dark or shines a light on it if it is after dark. Maggie knows it is important to teach her kids why they do this, to show proper respect for the flag. She takes care that neither she nor her kids ever lets it touch the ground. Her family attends flag raisings and always remove their hats. They have watched the scouts in their area take a tattered flag and retire it properly in a touching ceremony. She does all she can to help her kids love the flag.

Angela likes to always repeat the Pledge of Allegiance with feeling! She loves to emphasize the “One Nation Under God” part. She and Bob always stand for the National Anthem and salute the flag when appropriate. They have worked to teach their kids the rule of thumb: Never Salute a furled flag (one that the bearer has grasped with the pole), wait until it is unfurled. We must pass on the love for this right to Pledge and appreciate the beautiful words of the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Larsons do not agree with many of the things our current president has done. Still they respect his position and therefore call him President Obama. They feel like the right avenue is to use our Vote and our Voice to make correction, so they support good efforts and vote for good leaders. They talk over these things with their children that they may learn the correct principles and grow up to be True Patriots!

The Sunday before the 4^th of July, my sister always has a special Family Home Evening about Patriotism. Her family looks up the scriptures in the Book of Mormon about our chosen country. They watch a wonderful movie about the making of the Constitution: “A More Perfect Union: America Becomes a Nation.” More information online.. She is always careful to make sure they fly the flag on holidays. Further, as part of a Summer School she puts on with her kids, she uses charts purchased online at Latter-day Family Resources to teach about the three branches of government set up by the Constitution.

When I was in college, I got to go to Europe to study for a semester in 1980. At one point, our group went through Germany to Berlin. We then drove from West Berlin through “Check Point Charlie” into East Berlin. I saw the guard towers with armed guards, the barbed wire, and the search lights. I saw the Berlin Wall that divided a people and deprived half of them of the freedom to go where they wanted or worship as they pleased. Shuddering, I witnessed the armed soldiers who checked us out thoroughly and outlined the strict rules we must follow while inside the walls. I was struck so forcefully by the drab grayness—both in appearance and feel—obvious in a city without freedom, where people still stood in lines to get the necessities of life. I was so relieved to be back later on the West side. I was filled with gratitude to hear of the free election of Ronald Reagan later that year, and I was immeasurably grateful to be back on the soil of America, the land of the Free. How grateful I am to live in America and for my freedom. I want to pass that love on to my children and their children and do my part to preserve these great freedoms.