The past weekend and holiday were times to let history and yesterday mingle with today and tomorrow. Anyone who did not feel some sense of pride in America during those days should seriously wonder why. On all sides in all of the media, we saw examples of patriotism, strength, and the beauty of the country. The pictures were all about country and the flags and parades and tall ships, and musical tributes were many.

On Monday, I was flipping the TV remote, looking for a ball game. I happened upon a documentary film titled The American Revolution. Four hours later I realized the supper hour had come and gone while I was glued to this very fine program. If I had any voice to urge this film to be shown in every school in the country, I’d be making it heard. This story of how we became the United States of America is what every young person in school should be made to see, hear, and ponder. It is so well done and so easily understood, I was surprised. Direct quotes from every early statesman – Adams, Washington, Franklin, and all the others – are liberally sprinkled throughout the story. No school history book could portray it so well.

As with other holidays, I was remembering the huge picnics we always had in Monroe or Vermont. One time we had chocolate pies that were passed around to all those present, and one piece was left in the tin. Being fond of chocolate, the men organized a backyard game to determine who would get the pie. While the game was being played, Tommy, youngest of all the children present, climbed up on the kitchen table, and quietly and happily ate the piece of pie. It was pure luck that someone with a camera happened into the kitchen and took a great picture of that little boy, with chocolate all over his chubby face. A memory was born!

Laurie (middle daughter from Vermont) took Wendy’s daughter Megan to Boston for a few days. They walked the Freedom Trail, went to a number of historical places, and stayed in Lexington, where Laurie and I stayed the week of the bicentennial. The night before the Fourth, they attended the rehearsal of the Boston Pops program, on the esplanade.

The quote in last week’s column was by Booker T. Washington.

Who said, “On the whole, I’d rather be in Philadelphia”?