On February 26, 1919, a substantial portion of the Grand Canyon was designated a US National Park by Woodrow Wilson.  On the same day in 1929, the Grand Tetons would follow suit as the result of Calvin Coolidge signing a bill that had passed both houses of Congress whereby Grand Teton National Park was established in Wyoming.   Theodore Roosevelt can claim credit for bringing the Grand Canyon to America's awareness.  Upon first sighting it...

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In the early hours of daybreak   As the rising sun gives birtthTo a new day,   I often behold that timeNot so long ago,   When every American Shared in the "prosperity and success"   Of the "American Dream". It was the Golden Age   Of America triumphant,A time of economic peace,   Social justice,A strong middle class ...   Prosperous, secure, and stable. It was a time of    Shared affluence,A time when everybody   Paid their fair share;When every youth's...

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Looks like we're on a patriotic track here, so will stay with it for a bit.  I mentioned a while ago that I'd be showcasing a couple of patriotic teaching moments.  One I already highlighted as having occurred during the Boston Pops 4th of July performance at the Esplanade.  You'll have to read it to find out about that patriotic teaching moment. The 2nd "teaching moment" was just something that a friend made me aware...

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When I and most other folks think of Pendleton, my guess is that we first think of gray boiled wool flannel suits.  When I was 18 and heading off to college, my father gave me one of those suits - skirt and jacket - for Christmas.  It almost seemed to signify for him as "a rite of passage" for his little girl.  He was so pleased with himself.  It was a Size 4, bullet proof,...

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As a footnote to my previous post, Patriotic Teaching Moments, Part 1, and in honor of the 200th anniversary of Francis Scott Key's penning of The Star Spangled Banner, I thought I'd give a bit of the history of our National Anthem and provide the "lost verses" ... as information and for reflection. Francis Scott Key actually penned the poem that would become our National Anthem on September 13, 1814.  It was the War of...

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As I reflect back on "The days of summer" (evidenced by my last post re summer's shades of green and how I'm missing them), I continue to be struck by two profound "patriotic teaching moments".  One goes back to the very beginning of summer ... the heralding in of the season with the Boston Pops annual Fourth of July "fireworks spectacular".  This year, because of weather, it was aired on the 3rd and frankly, having...

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