Americans are tough. We’re proud to be rugged, proud to be strong, proud to be American. We prize true grit, and love being the kind of cool guys you see in the movies. But there’s also something very American about opening your heart and feeling the love that we all feel for our country.
A few weeks ago, I talked about my daughter Emily’s adoration for Hamilton and her Memorial Day trip to New York City. While she was there with her choir, they performed an entire Memorial Day weekend concert at a beautiful church. And while the concert was fantastic (I got to see videos), there was another aspect to their trip that got right to the heart of what it means to be a proud American. It’s something I’m reflecting on as we ramp up for this weekend’s Fourth of July celebration:
Are you familiar with the concept of a flash mob? It’s a surprise act or performance in a public place, meant to bring a little bit of random joy to everyone’s day. They’re especially popular in busy places – like Grand Central Station, Times Square, or – where my daughter’s choir sang – Central Park.
The video below (which garnered more than 15, 000 views on Facebook) features my daughter’s choir surprise-singing the national anthem for an audience of passersby in Central Park. When the choir sang the last chord, two servicemen in New York City for Fleet Week stepped forward to hug the director, shake the kids’ hands, and thank them.
And that, to me, is pretty amazing. My daughter and her choir were singing to express their freedoms and their joy at being able to live in a country where they can open their mouths and hearts wherever and whenever they please, thanks to the work of brave servicemen and women. And yet, these young servicemen wanted to thank those singing kids right back, for being brave enough to stand in the street and sing their hearts out, and for loving this country like it ought to be loved.
The choir also sang the national anthem at the entrance of the 9/11 Memorial. And, even New Yorkers – some of the toughest Americans around – were moved to tears by the music and the display of hard-working, talented young people singing their hearts out. Now that’s all-American to me.
Celebrate your love for our country this weekend,
~Bob
