Posted on 07/02/2002 12:52:13 PM PDT by chance33_98
50 ways to show you love your country From Gazette Staff And Knight-Ridder News
Somehow, the Fourth of July this year stands for so much more than just grilling hot dogs and enjoying fireworks.
We find ourselves thinking, instead, about what it means to be American. About the bedrock guarantees of freedom and equality that make this country a wonderful place to live. And about the sacrifices so many have made to preserve our way of life.
So this year, many Americans want to celebrate the nation's birthday by finding at least one way, however small, to keep things rolling. Want to do the same? Then are some suggestions.
Re-read the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. All three can be found online at www.archives.gov.
Talk to children about why you love America.
Write to a service member. Though many military pen-pal programs were suspended after last fall's anthrax scares, a secure, private Web site is now available to collect and forward messages from the public. Go to AnyServiceMember.Navy.mil.
Plan a block party. Get to know your neighbors.
Visit a national monument this summer, and drink in the country's rich history and natural wonder. Try the Statue of Liberty or Mount Rushmore.
Brush up on geography, including the state capitals.
Adopt a bald eagle. Call the American Eagle Foundation, which is working to save these endangered birds, at 1-800-2EAGLES, or go to www.eagles.org/.
Give blood, to ensure that a safe reserve remains available to hospitals and the military. Call the Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE. In Billings, United Blood Services is open 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday through Friday at 3000 Seventh Ave. N., 248-9168.
Recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Whether to include the "Under God" part is up to you.
Fly a flag, but be sure to observe proper etiquette. Take flags down at sunset unless illuminated, and retire old, tattered flags through a burning ceremony. More details have been posted online by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Go to www.vfw.org/ and click on "Your Town," then "Flag Etiquette."
Take someone out to the ballgame. Baseball remains, after all, the American pastime. In Billings, the Mustangs play Medicine Hat Blue Jays at 4 p.m. at Cobb Field. The Downtown Exchange Club sponsors the game, and admission is free with donation of two nonperishable food items per person for Billings Food Bank.
Collect oral histories for the Library of Congress, which aims to chronicle the lives of as many war veterans as possible. For details, call 1-888-371-5848 or go to www.loc.gov/folklife/vets/.
Keep America beautiful. Pick up litter in parks and on the street. It's something that anyone can do any time. But Yellowstone County residents can get involved through two organized efforts - Adopt-A-Highway or Bright n' Beautiful Billings. To get involved with either, call Carolyn Miller, of Bright n' Beautiful, at 248- 6617.
Join the Peace Corps. Become one of America's unofficial ambassadors. Call 1-800-424-8580.
Contribute to a Sept. 11-related charity, such as the Twin Towers Orphans Fund, www.ttof.org/ or (661) 633-9076.
Donate to a nonprofit group that serves everyday Americans, such as the Boys and Girls Clubs - www.bgca.org/ or your local food bank. In Billings, the Boys and Girls Club is at 505 Orchard Lane or call 245-2582. Billings Food Bank is at 2112 Fourth Ave. N. or call 259-2856.
Tutor at-risk kids. What could be more patriotic than preparing the next generation to lead the nation? To get started, inquire at your local public school.
Learn about new Americans from generations past - and maybe research your own family history - at www.EllisIsland.org/.
Memorize the words to the national anthem.
Help build the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. To make a donation or request information, call 1-800-639-4WW2, or go to www.wwiimemorial.com/.
Buy American.
Help immigrants learn English and adjust to American life, by volunteering to tutor them in English.
See your country in a new way through the eyes of a Ken Burns documentary. "Jazz," "Baseball," "The Civil War" and other epics are now available on video and DVD.
Stay abreast of world events, and America's response to them, by following international news coverage.
Check up on democracy. Drop by a meeting of your city council, school board or county supervisors or commissioners. In Billings, the City Council and School Board meet most Monday evenings as committees and as the full bodies. City Council information is available at 657-8433. School District 2's offices are at Lincoln Center, 415 N. 30th Street, or call 247-3777. County Commission meetings are usually during the daytime at the Yellowstone County Courthouse; call 256-2701 for information.
Pay your taxes. It's your duty as a citizen.
Watch "The American Experience," which airs most Sunday nights on PBS. Check your local listings.
Get active in party politics.
Read a presidential biography. A few worth looking into are "No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt," by Doris Kearns Goodwin; "John Adams" by David McCullough; and "Master of the Senate: The Years of Lyndon Johnson," by Robert A. Caro (Knopf).
Travel overseas. Nothing makes you appreciate the United States more than returning home from a long trip abroad.
Help meet the security needs of our post-Sept. 11 society. Ask about becoming a volunteer at your local police or fire department. Billings has cop shops staffed with volunteers; call 657-8460.
Pursue happiness. Blowing bubbles at the office is a great way to start.
Virtually visit the White House at www.whitehouse.gov.
Consider running for office. Democracy depends on the leadership of ordinary citizens. To get started, contact the elections department in the county where you live. In Yellowstone County, the elections office is in the County Courthouse, 217 N. 27th St., or call 256-2740.
Research the founding fathers. Any public librarian can suggest good sources. Parmly Billings Library is at 501 N. Broadway.
Smile at a stranger on the street. Say hello, even.
Offer a ride to someone who might not otherwise get to see the fireworks on the Fourth of July. In Billings, fireworks will be lighted in a free display at about 10 p.m. Thursday at Stewart Park. Laurel's annual display is at about the same time in Thompson Park.
Monitor the voting records of your local, state and federal representatives.
Report for jury duty, without trying any lame excuses to get sent home.
Watch a patriotic movie. Two suggestions are "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" or "The American President."
Dye your hair red, white or blue.
Become a citizen soldier. Find out about National Guard service by calling 1-800-GO-GUARD, or visiting www.1800goguard.com/.
Exercise your right to free speech. Write a letter to the editor about an issue you care about strongly.
Mail $1 to help the children of Afghanistan. The address is: America's Fund for Afghan Children; c/o The White House; 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.; Washington, D.C. 20509-1600.
Thank a veteran for his or her service to our country.
Review the structure and history of our government by enjoying those classic '70s "Schoolhouse Rock" segments. "America Rock" can be found on CD and videotape at local libraries.
Visit patients in Veterans Administration hospitals and nursing homes. To find out more, call the volunteer department of your veterans center.
Register to vote. Forms are available at the county elections office.
Cast a ballot. And that means on every election day, not just the big ones.
Be grateful. Remember: you're lucky to live here.
I have had the pleasure of being exposed to a diverse array of other nations, and i can say this with total emphasis!
ricans are darn lucky to be Americans.
And the funny/sad thing is that the majority of Americans are not aware of this fact! Yes yes, they know they are fortunate to have been born in this nation, but they are not aware of the far reaching ramifications of that occurence.
After all there is a reason everyone in the world wants to come here....and it is not as mundane as a 'better income,' but more closer to a 'far better LIFE!'
And actually it is my honest opinion that in the civics classes students in grade school should be made aware of the conditions outside their immediate borders (and no, i do not mean the neighboring state) since by doing so they would become aware of that which is without, and in the process become thankful of that whish is within.
Being born American is a blessing in itself! If you beg to differ just ask any immigrant why they came to the US (even immigrants from the more developed nations).
Cast a ballot. And that means on every election day, not just the big ones.
Glaring omission: Educate yourself about the candidates and issues prior to casting your vote.
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