Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue by Linda S. Glaz

Here we are, just 48 hours away from the greatest privilege (including the privilege of writing) that any American can have. I’m a “wear it on my sleeve” emotional American.

I served in the military at a time when it wasn’t a particularly popular thing for a woman to do. I remember that my mom was asked some very crude things by a co-worker about why women would want to serve. (Mom gave that woman an earful, let me tell you)

But having served has been with me far longer than anyone can imagine. I still—ahem—fold my bras and socks just as they taught us in boot camp. After all, those technical instructors truly did exude efficiency. And, yet, that’s not all I took away from my time in the Air Force.

As a teenager, having laughed at my dad as he choked up and his eyes watered whenever the national anthem was played, I thought I was numb to that kind of patriotism until I served at a foreign base where we weren’t allowed to fly the flag publicly. Only, in the movie theater, before each movie played, the national anthem blared loud and long, the flag flying in all its glory on the screen. I choked up, teared up, sniffled along with the other moviegoers, and sang at the top of my lungs. Go get ‘em, Dad!

To this day, my heart clogs to overflowing when I hear the anthem, and I salute, a privilege I earned wearing a lot of “blue” during the Vietnam era. And I still understand the honor of living in a country that allows me to speak my mind, pray my heart, and pursue happiness at my pace to the best of my ability.

No, folks, I’m not talking about the writing industry today, I’m talking about my heart. About things we take for granted every day. The freedoms, we, as Americans, are born into by the sheer Grace of God. How blessed we are.

Tuesday, no matter who you choose to vote for, remember what a privilege you are exercising. Don’t take it for granted, don’t assume someone else will vote for you. Understand that while God’s in control, we should still walk into the booth and choose. Choice is one of the greatest gifts we have. Our choice to believe and our choice to choose!

Happy Election Day, folks.

Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!