James D. Thornton, PCC
Commander, Department of Kansas
(Franklin Camp No. 5, Olathe, Kansas)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!! It’s here! The 250th anniversary of our nation, the United States of America, is being celebrated this year. Our country will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the most important day in our history – July 4, 1776 – when we became an independent nation.
Outlets across the media spectrum are asking their readers and viewers to submit essays describing the time they felt the proudest to be an American. This has prompted me to think about my lifetime and when I felt the pride of being an American. But I simply cannot narrow it down. I have experienced too many moments to pick just one.
I can clearly remember the first time – July 20, 1969. I was sitting in front of an old black and white TV with my Dad watching Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin plant the United States flag on the moon. But they did so with humility. They did not gloat over the U.S. being the first. Neil Armstrong could not have said it any better – “For All Mankind.” The United States was victorious in the Space Race!
My patriotism continued to grow over the years, especially during the Bicentennial of 1976. That was when I began to wonder about my own family’s contributions to our nation and began to explore it. I learned of my grandfather’s service in World War II as a firefighter aboard an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Theater and other relatives who served in that war, including a cousin who perished on Iwo Jima. This is also the time I reached out to my great-aunt Reda about our family tree and found out I had ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War. WOW – I had ancestors who fought for and established our country!
Here I am, 57 years after that eight-year-old boy watched with pride as his nation planted a United States Flag on the moon. I have since discovered many other ancestors who have fought and defended the United States in almost all our nation’s conflicts, including the American Civil War. Although I cannot narrow down my pride to one specific moment, what makes me the proudest is the fact I have so many ancestors and family members who have served this nation, helped found it, helped preserve the union, helped protect it. I am proud of the fact that I can belong to so many heritage organizations, including the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.
And now, here I am serving as the Department of Kansas Commander during our nation’s 250th Birthday. It was my ancestor’s service as a Union soldier, helping preserve this nation, that has allowed me to achieve this office. Talk about pride!
What about you? When did you feel the proudest to be an American? Research your lineage and your family tree. You may find an ancestor whose role in history helped us achieve this milestone. Let’s celebrate America!