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America Still Greatest Land Of All

Darlene K. Watkin

Published: February 10, 2009

This past week I returned from our 7th American Legion yearly cruise we put together to of course enjoy life and each other, but mainly to raise funds for our veteran programs and children and youth programs.
It has personally been a rewarding experience for my husband, David, and me, but this year's cruise brought along with it yet another dynamic force that made me once more sit up and take notice of our wonderful country and all its attributes. The force came this time from the eye of our youngest son, Matthew, who along with his lovely new bride Theresa, had come along for this year's cruise, as did many other of our travelers bring family.
After a day at sea with us developing a great rapport with the other travelers and enjoying all the beauty around us, we went into Grand Cayman Island followed by Jamaica. That evening my son came to our room saying, "Mom, you know this is the first time I have ever been out of the United States in my 40 years and I felt in my heart that there is no place on earth like the United States of America. The beauty God gave our world was all around us as it is everywhere, but seeing these ports and the structure of their economy, education and living, etc. I can honestly say that even in these hard times, Mom, there is nowhere like the good old U.S.A. Our poorest of people live better than these people.
If Americans had only learned what my World War II father had taught me as a child; buy American, keep your money at home and keep our economy safe, we wouldn't be in the hard times we are right now.
I guess what I am saying is to look around us folks; be thankful of what we have and are, and put America first for a change. Let's stop whining and reclaim our patriotism and pride and no matter your politics, start thinking beyond ourselves and put American workers and products first.
Darlene K. Watkin American Legion Auxiliary
Sebring