Sweet Land of Liberty

admin — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 07:00:46 +0000

When I was a child, we began every school day with not only the Pledge of Allegiance, but also a patriotic song. My Country Tis of Thee was my favorite. Later, as a grown up Kiwanian of many years, we began each meeting with a patriotic song — a charming custom that ought to be practiced throughout the nation. My Country Tis of Thee is still my favorite, and sometimes, while pretending to hit the high notes by using my internal mute button and letting the beautiful soprano voice of my friend Rebecca Bennett take over, I’d think about the words. My country. Our country. Tis of Thee. We. Isn’t that what it is all about? ALL of us. Today, we celebrate what we’re all about — freedom. Today, we embrace change and find new reservoirs of hope and expectation as our country starts the first day of a new administration. My dear friend Monty Blackwell (who, come to think of it, I met in 7th grade Glee Club) sent me this photo and it seems fitting to share it today. As an aside, think about getting 18,000 individuals to the right field, in the right position, with no GPS, no Twitter, no cells, no PDAs. Wow! And God Bless America.

This incredible picture was taken in 1918. It is 18,000 men preparing for war in a training camp at Camp Dodge in Iowa. EIGHTEEN THOUSAND MEN! What a priceless gift from our grandfathers!

FACTS:

Base to Shoulder: 150 feet
Right Arm: 340 feet
Widest part of arm holding torch: 12 1/2 feet
Right thumb: 35 feet
Thickest part of body: 29 feet
Left hand length: 30 feet
Face: 60 feet
Nose: 21 feet
Longest spike of head piece: 70 feet
Torch and flame combined: 980 feet
Number of men in flame of torch: 12,000
Number of men in torch: 2,800
Number of men in right arm: 1,200
Number of men in body, head and balance of figure only: 2,000
Total men: 18,000

Working Titlez » Rebecca Bennett

Sweet Land of Liberty