Searching for the Face of America in The Heartland: Point Lookout, Missouri

By Tony Mussari

Photographs By Kitch Loftus Mussari

I do not believe there is a problem in this country or the world today which could not be settled if approached through the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount.    Harry S. Truman

My journey to the College of the Ozarks began in my grandmother’s kitchen more than 60 years ago. I don’t remember the date, but I do remember the event.  My uncles were reminiscing about their experiences in World War 2. They did not say much about the gore of the war or the battles that left permanent marks on their souls, but they did something that made a permanent impression on me. 

When we were around, they were quick to show us the artifacts of war. I loved the brass buttons and the uniform patches. I was fascinated by the chevrons and the lapel pins.

All these years later, the little boy who worshipped these men is a retired teacher and a grandfather in the twilight of his years.  His search for the Face of America took him to the College of the Ozarks, the epicenter of an innovative program that brings college students and World War II veterans together for international travel to battlefields where the teenagers of the 1940s literally saved the world.

In sacred places like Normandy, Anzio, Iwo Jima and so many others, 16 million men and women earned the title The Greatest Generation. 310,979 earned it by dying for their country. 672,377 earned it by being injured in battle, and 12,780 earned it by being declared missing in action.   

My wife and I came to Point Lookout, Missouri, to talk with students about their experiences with the last remaining survivors of this war. We wanted to know what they learned about the war, the men who fought it, and its importance, if any, in this time and place.  We wanted to know what they learned about themselves and their country.

During our visit, we talked with five students who accompanied World War II veterans to European and Pacific battlefields, and five students who were involved in other activities sponsored by a college that is determined to provide an education of the head, heart and hands.

The College of the Ozarks is a faith-based school.  The animating spirit of this campus is best summarized in 17 words from Colossians: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men.”

Our experience here was pleasant, positive, productive and profound.

Our conversation began with a business major, Riley Webb, who explained the unique circumstance that brought him to Hard Work U. as it is known here. Riley works 15 hours a week in the security office at the entrance to the campus.  Like all of the students here he works one full week each semester. He pays for his books, but he does not pay any tuition.

It’s a formula for success.  This year, the College of the Ozarks has received 5,000 applicants for 300 positions in the 2011 freshman class. That’s an impressive statistic by any standard.

Jamie Jernigan is a senior majoring in information systems. She helped us to better understand the five core values of the college: Academic, Vocational, Christian, Patriotic and Cultural. Jamie participated in one of the battlefield trips sponsored by the college and the Greatest Generation Foundation. She called it the most important learning moment of her college career. It helped her to better understand the significance of what these men did. It humbled her to be in their presence.

Jamie hopes that her love for WWII veterans “will inspire more people to think more about patriotism.”

Ashlyn Moore is a sophomore.  She works in the public relations office. Ashlyn went to the 65th anniversary celebration at Normandy. During the trip, she recorded her thoughts in a blog. During our visit, she talked about the lasting impact of her experience. For Ashlyn Moore, it was a life-changing experience. It was an opportunity to develop a better understanding of words like freedom, patriotism, courage, honor and sacrifice for country.  For the rest of her life, she intends to tell the story of June 4, 1944, and the 10 veterans who helped her to understand the significance of that day.

Blake DeHaan is a senior.  He is a thoughtful and very polished young man. There is honesty and integrity in his eyes. He wants to become a law enforcement officer.

Blake went to Normandy with a suitcase filled with questions about the war and the things that happened during the largest battle ever fought.  He came home with a briefcase filled with memorabilia that he will treasure for the rest of his life.  

After our conversation, he carefully removed each item and he displayed them on a couch in the lobby of the Keeter Center. It was a moment of honor, respect and admiration. Before we parted, this impressive young man took me to a gallery of pictures on the main floor of the Keeter Center, and he showed me the priceless picture that was taken on the famous beach at Normandy with his veteran.

Lukas Mathews is a chemistry major.  He went to Iwo Jima. For this young man who wants to become a doctor, the trip made him much more aware of the horrible things that happen in war. It helped him to develop a sense of compassion for the men who fought in the South Pacific. It also gave him a much better appreciation of the human cost of war. This is something he now knows in a very personal way. His brother was recently deployed to the Middle East.  For the rest of his life, he will remember these two events, and they will give him perspective.

In the years ahead, this very special young man will become a medical doctor.  He will heal the sick and care for the suffering. He will also honor his responsibility to keep the story of the Greatest Generation alive and well.

On a special evening in one of the newest buildings on campus, students who had been selected to go on future patriotic trips came together to hear Rebecca Wright talk about her experience. Watching Rebecca through the viewfinder of my camera, I saw a young woman with poise, grace and natural leadership skills. Rebecca was well organized and very effective as she took her audience through all of the steps of the journey they would take.  

During the question and answer period, I waited for the appropriate moment, and then I asked Rebecca three questions that enabled her to address the issues in our Face of America project. She responded in a heartfelt way that touched my heart and produced this response, “Rebecca, you are indeed a genuine Face of America.”

As Kitch and I were leaving the orientation session, a sign in a classroom on the second floor caught my attention. The 11 letters spelled a word that was prominently displayed on a classroom wall 1,200 miles east of this place.  It read FLEXIBILITY. It produced memories of another time, another place, another classroom and another faith-based college, King’s College, that I called home for 37 years. It was an ironic and precious moment.

At Sunday service in a packed Gothic cathedral that towers over this campus, Kitch and I learned about two spring break service trips: a mission trip to a Navajo Indian reservation in New Mexico and a trip the 80-member chorus took to Washington, Philadelphia and New York City.  The students who talked about these experiences were articulate, compelling and very impressive.

After a thoughtful sermon by Daniel K. Chinn about the importance of humility in the Christian tradition, and a powerful and poignant presentation by worship leader and chorus director Gregg Bush I could feel the canvas of this visit changing. I wanted to learn more about these students and what they experienced. In the days ahead, I would get an opportunity to do just that.

It was our good fortune to meet a gracious and talented junior, Stephanie Fitzgerald, who sat with us in the shadow of Williams Memorial Chapel to tell her story of renewal and transformation as she sang “America the Beautiful” on the lawn of the US Capitol in Washington, and at St Paul’s Church in lower Manhattan adjacent to Ground Zero.

Stephanie wants to be a music teacher and a performer.  She has a voice that is absolutely beautiful, and a personality that is welcoming, kind and generous. Stephanie, Kitch and I had an instant connection.  She shared her enormous talent with us and she connected us with the college chorus for a moment that we will never forget.

Stephanie is a young woman who represents her family and her college with dignity and class. She will be an excellent teacher.

Elske Oldeboer is an exchange student from Holland.  She is studying public relations and marketing. We met Elske at lunch in the student dining room. Kitch was drawn to Elske. She found her to be a bright, charming, sophisticated young woman.

Elske accepted our invitation to become a part of our project, and we were the beneficiaries of her insights about America.  During her interview, she helped us to better understand how our country and our people are seen in Europe. She also helped u to frame a question that would become central to other interviews.
 
During her stay at the College of the Ozarks, Elske has learned much about America. Her story is positive and it is filled with interesting insights.

Hannah Ramsey is studying to become a nurse. After a few moments in her presence, I knew she would be an excellent nurse.  Hannah is positive and thoughtful.  She is a very caring person, and she has an appreciation for the wonderful opportunities she has been given at the College of the Ozarks.

Hannah is a natural conversationalist, and she makes one feel very comfortable no matter what the setting.  In my opinion, she personifies the spirit and then purpose of this college. She is faith-based person, a welcoming person, an industrious person, a well educated person and a patriotic person.

Like all of the students we met, Hannah is a genuine person. There are no hidden agendas.  It’s all sincerity, all integrity, and all willingness to help.

At the College of the Ozarks, the vision is clear and purposeful. From the office of the president to the office of the restaurant manager, the goal is to develop citizens of Christ-like character who are well educated, hardworking and patriotic.

We came to Point Lookout, Missouri, with three objectives. We wanted to meet Dr. Fred Mullinax. We wanted to interview students in his special program for veterans. We wanted to present the National 9/11 Remembrance Flag  to Dr. Jerry Davis.  We leave this special place today with memories that are rich and inspirational, sounds from a chorus that will fill our hearts and minds with positive emotions, friendships that will endure, and a portrait of the Face of America that is practically perfect in every way.

As I drive our Prius along Opportunity Way 16 words from a quotation will be playing against the melody of An American Anthem: “How lucky I am to have known someone who was so hard to say good-bye to.”

President Harry Truman was right. “It is understanding that gives us the ability to have peace.”

Until the next time, we hope that all of your stories have happy endings.

Please keep us in your prayers and always know of our gratitude for your help, kindness and support.

Please provide feedback to:
tmussari@gmail.com

Moving East: The Magic of our Face of America Journey Continues

By Tony Mussari

Photographs By Kitch Loftus Mussari

In the past week, Kitch and I have been temporary residents of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. Driving through each of these states, we were mesmerized by the breathtaking beauty of the mountains, the forests and the Plains.  Wherever we went, we snapped hundreds of pictures of towering snow-capped mountains and picturesque valleys that stretch as far as the eye can see. Around every bend in the road, we found scenes that demanded our attention and images that radiated positive energy. The natural beauty of these states is awesome, captivating and majestic.

As we drove through the mountain passes, we thought about the courage and determination of the pioneers who crossed these mountains without benefit of the modern luxuries we enjoy.   

In Washington, we had a reunion with a former student, Dawn Gerken, at an animal shelter in Kent Station.

In Idaho, we spent an afternoon in Wallace. This quaint silver mining town of fewer than 1,000 people is a poster child for historical preservation.  Recently it was selected as one of the coolest small towns in America.  We had lunch at the Red Light Garage and we spent time with one of the architects of the town’s revitalization, Jamie Baker.

In Montana, we were mesmerized by the breathtaking beauty of the mountains. It’s hard to describe the feeling one gets when you realize that  Sacagawa led the Lewis and Clark Expedition through the Bozeman Pass with much more primitive equipment than our air conditioned and heated Prius. Again and again we talked about the courage, determination and accomplishments of the men and women who crossed these mountains during the infancy of our country.

In Utah, we had a wonderful reunion with Paul Swenson and the people who work at Colonial Flag.  Thanks to Paul’s friendship and kindness we had an unbelievable experience with 10 Olympians who gave America moments we will never forget at the Vancouver Olympics. It was a moment of patriotism and pride like no other we experienced on our journey.

In Wyoming, we were stranded by a horrible accident that closed Interstate 80 for 100 miles and swelled the population of a town appropriately named Little America. There we took advantage of a very bad situation, and we met men and women who live on the road as it were. These are the people who drive the big rigs. They provided us with an interesting insight into an essential part of our nation and its commerce. These are hearty, genuine people who speak their minds clearly and with conviction.

In Nebraska, we spent the night in North Platte.  Before we left, we visited Fort Cody. Then, we followed the route of the Pony Express. In Gothenburg, we visited a town that celebrates the heroism of the men who carried the mail to stations across the west from St. Joseph, Missouri, to San Francisco, California. It was another humbling moment as we thought about what they sacrificed to get the mail to the Pacific coast in ten days.

Today we are in Missouri at the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout. This is a school known as Hard Work U. This is a school where opportunity, patriotism and spirituality meet. It is place where the values of the college are prominently displayed in one of the most impressive buildings on the campus, The Keeter Center for Character Education.

In a way, we traveled 7,000 miles to get here. In point of fact, we drove the longest distance of the trip to get here, approximately 690 miles in one day. It’s not what I promised my cardiologist, Dr. Joseph Briskie, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

As of this afternoon, we have met a number of very impressive students. We interviewed Riley Webb, and we have arranged an interview with Stephanie Fitzgerald. Every student at this college works for the college 15 hours a week and one full week during each semester.  In return, the student pays no tuition.

When I asked Ian Sousan at the Summer Winds Resort Services Information Center at Main and Commerce in downtown Branson what he thought about Hard Work U, he was unequivocal in his praise.  It is a wonderful school, he told us, and we are proud to have it here. It represents all the right things.

We have a lot more to do here at the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, and we will be writing about it in the days ahead.

For those who like statistics, these are the numbers:

We have been on the road for 28 days. We have driven 7,121 miles. We have snapped 10,000 digital pictures and we have visited 21 states.

Recently, someone asked me how I would describe what we are seeing. I replied: “America you are Big, Beautiful, Bold, Bountiful, and Benevolent.  Everywhere we go, we meet good people, caring people, kind people who are willing to help us. Everywhere we go we are amazed by the size of the country, the natural beauty of the country, the heroic courage of our ancestors who made this country what it is today.

If there is one enduring lesson we are learning, it is this. We have a solemn responsibility to make sure that the America of tomorrow is as beautiful in heart, mind and spirit as the America we were given yesterday.

Until the next time, we hope that all of your stories have happy endings.

Please keep us in your prayers and always know of our gratitude for your help, kindness and support.

Please provide feedback to:
tmussari@gmail.com

The University of Portland: A Face of America Day of Teaching, Faith and Service

By Tony Mussari

The University of Portland is one of the gems in the crown of eight Congregation of Holy Cross colleges located in the United States.

Located on a site made famous by Lewis and Clark in 1806, this university and its collection of handsome red brick buildings and  lush fruit trees was bathed in the glow of radiant sunshine on this March day.  According to the people we met, this day was about as close to perfection as it gets in Portland.

When we arrived at 5000 Willamette Boulevard, the campus was alive with the sights and sounds of learning. Student volunteers were leading tours of the campus for high school seniors and their parents. A faculty member was working with a group of students on the steps of Franz Hall.  A number of people were making their way up and down the steps of the administration building, Waldschmidt Hall, one of the oldest buildings on campus.  Others were congregating beneath the recently constructed bell tower located next to the Chapel of Christ the Teacher on the perimeter of a beautiful quad in the center of the campus.

Our hostess for the day, Jamie Powell, greeted us with a smile and after a brief introduction we began a whirlwind of activity that resulted in eight interviews and a very special group picture. Jamie is the Director of the Garaventa Center for Catholic Intellectual Life and American Culture. She is a charming , competent, caring woman. Every college should have a Jamie Powell to welcome visitors and present the brand name of the school. Kitch and I knew from the moment we met Jamie that it would be a very good day. There is warmth, kindness and goodness in her eyes.

Our first Face of America interview took place at the Broken Wall, a memorial to  alumni who died in World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.  Standing in front of the focal point of this special place, the Praying Hands, university archivist, Fr. Robert Antonelli, set the tone for the day.  Fr. Bob, as he is affectionate known, is a man who loves life, radiates goodness, and makes everyone he meets feel special. After his interview, we toured the subterranean office where he has carefully and effectively codified the historical artifacts and documents of the university.

Then it was off to lunch where we were joined by Cathy Kendall Johnson and` Doug Hansen. Cathy and Doug work in the development office. They talked positively about their work and their history with the university.  They made us feel comfortable and welcome.

Shortly before 1 p.m. we made our way to the Administration Building where three ROTC cadets were waiting for us.  In a twist of fate, the first cadet we met was Cadet Corporal Gregory Perez from Houston, Texas. He is an engaging and bright young man with a good heart and a million dollar smile. After his interview, he told me he intends to do some research to find out if he is related to the woman who inspired our Face of America project, 2d Lt. Emily Perez.

Army Cadet Major Trenton Conyers is a delightful young man from Newton, Kansas.  He said he never dreamed that he would attend the University of Portland, but fate lead him to the campus and he is glad it did. He loves the school, then people who teach here and his fellow cadets as much as he loves his country.

Cadet Corporal Andrew Riley is one of two brothers who are in ROTC at the university. Andrew is a very tall and athletic looking young man with a heart of gold. He spoke passionately about honor and service to country. He believes his service in the army will enable him to make a contribution to his country and the world.

LTC Lewis Doyle has served his country in uniform for 20 years. He has very strong feelings about the ROTC program and the students he teaches. During his interview, he emphasized the importance of leadership. He talked at great length about the qualities of a successful cadet. As he talked, I got the feeling that these students are in good hands with LTC Doyle. For him, this is more than a job, and these students are more than potential army officers. For LTC Doyle, this is about family.

Shortly before 3 p.m., we were joined by Rev. Gary Chamberland, the Director of Campus Ministry, and Colonel Terry Kono, Professor of Aerospace Studies. Colonel Kono is a man with a perpetual smile on his face, and Fr. Chamberland is a thoughtful man who seems perfectly suited for his position. Both Kono and Chamberland represent the university with dignity and class.

At the appointed hour, the students and faculty assembled in front the administration building for a presentation of the 9/11 National Remembrance Flag. Kitch and Jamie Powell joined the group. It was a very special moment on a very special day in a very special place.

As I snapped the picture, I thought to myself this is the Face of America. These people are not rich, famous or powerful.  They do not make headlines.  They are not celebrities. They go about their work of each day without noise or notice, but by doing what they do in the quiet ways they do it, our country is a better place today, and it will be better place tomorrow.

The stories we recorded were wonderful. The people we met were welcoming, the students who talked with us were focused, and impressive.


The Holy Cross priests we met were inspirational and healing in their warm and compassionate comments.

We came to Oregon in search of the Face of America. We found it here at the University of Portland on a glorious day. We found it in the hearts and minds of thoughtful people who believe in service, reconciliation, redemption and honor. It doesn’t get much better than that.  

Thank you Peg Hogan and Jamie Powell for making this day possible.

Thank you Cathy and Dan Cronen for making our visit to Portland possible.

Thank you Mary Elizabeth O’Connor for opening the door for us.

Until the next time, we hope that all of your stories have happy endings.

Please keep us in your prayers and always know of our gratitude for your help, kindness and support.

Please provide feedback to:
tmussari@gmail.com

Is Your Prius Safe? A Face of America Qustion.
The answer: Yes, Yes, Yes!

By Tony Mussari

Greetings from Portland, Oregon.

As of today, we have driven 4,121 miles cross country in search of the Face of America in our 2007 Toyota Prius.  The car has performed flawlessly.

We drove through a blizzard just outside of Flagstaff, Arizona. We crossed the California desert in intense winds, and we arrived in San Francisco in a driving rainstorm. 

At times, we drove very fast, in excess of 75 miles per hour. On our way to Tustin, the LA freeway became a parking lot, and we moved very slowly.

Wherever we were and whatever the traffic conditions were, our Prius lived up to its reputation.

On Tuesday, March 16, we drove from Moraga California, to the Toyota dealership in Walnut Creek for our 30,000 mile service appointment. The appointment was set up by Jeff Crawford, the service manager at our Toyota dealership in northeastern Pennsylvania, Motorworld.

In Walnut Creek, Al Splendorio and Tim Howell made sure that we were treated as if we purchased our Toyota from them.  They were welcoming, friendly, competent and very accommodating.

One of the wonderful features of Toyota at Walnut Creek is a complimentary breakfast at a very nice restaurant called Buttercup.  Kitch, Julie Marvel and I had a grand time talking about our experiences over a warm cup of coffee and scrambled eggs.

When we returned to pick up our car, our Prius was waiting, and we had a wonderful opportunity to speak with members of the service department and two very satisfied Toyota owners who willingly agreed to speak to us about our Face of America project.

Yesterday in Ashland, Oregon, a man approached our car in a service station.  He looked at me with a face that was full of questions, and then he said: “Is that car you are driving safe?”

That gave me an opportunity to make the case for the Prius and my experience with Toyota.

“Yes it is,” I replied, “and I have the evidence to prove it.  My wife and I are driving to each of the 48 continental states in search of the Face of America in my Prius, and we are here to tell you everything is going well and our Prius is performing beautifully.”

His rejoinder got me thinking. “I believe you.  I like Toyota products.  They should have people like you speaking to people like me because you have actual experience driving the car.”

“How is it on gas?” he asked. That’s one of my favorite questions, because it enables me to sing the praises of the Prius.  We are averaging 43 miles per gallon, and we have been driving speeds of 68 to 75 miles per hour on the highway.

“That’s great mileage,” he replied.

We were now engaged, and Barry Grigsby was willing to tell his Face of America story on camera.   

Thanks to our Prius, we found the Face of America at a Toyota dealership in Walnut Creek, California, and at a Shell gas station in Ashland, Oregon.

Thanks to the fuel efficiency and the superior performance of our Prius, we are able to make this Face of America journey, and fulfill the dream of a lifetime.

Until the next time, we hope that all of your stories have happy endings.

Please keep us in your prayers and always know of our gratitude for your help, kindness and support.

Please provide feedback to:
tmussari@gmail.com

Moraga, California: A Night with Herb Brooks at St. Mary’s College

By Tony Mussari

Kitch and I came to California to deliver a guest lecture in Julie Marvel’s graduate course: Media and Public Relations in Sport Business.

Julie is an accomplished athlete.  She won a state PGA amateur championship when she was 14, and she won the North South amateur PGA event when she was 21. More important than her success on the golf course is her beautiful spirit, her caring way, and her thoughtful nature.

I met Julie in Lake Placid in 2005.  Julie was introducing her son to the magic of this place. Kitch and I were introducing the students in our last class to Herb Brooks and the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team.

On a cold winter afternoon, our paths crossed in the Olympic Museum. We became fast friends, and our lives changed forever. Julie became an integral part of our Miracle at Lake Placid project. She helped us take the project to a level we never dreamed possible. She opened her home and her heart to our students. She shared her knowledge and expertise in ways that benefited everyone associated with the project.

For the past five years, Julie has been a blessing in our life.  She is a loyal friend, a trusted colleague, an understanding and supportive partner in everything we do. Her legacy in our life is all good, all helpful, all wise, and all kind.

Last evening we experienced a moment when friendship and partnership meet, and what a moment it was.

St. Mary’s College sits peacefully in a beautiful setting high above Moraga, California.  At the moment, the college is enjoying a good deal of national attention because of the success of its men’s basketball team. The St. Mary’s Gaels are doing very well in the annual rite of basketball mania affectionately know as March Madness.

On Monday evening, March 15, while Gloria Steinem was lecturing in one part of the campus, Kitch and I were working with Julie’s students in another part of the campus. Quite frankly, it was one of the best experiences of our Face of America journey.

Julie’s students were interested, engaged and willing to participate.  They wanted to learn everything we had to share.  From the opening exercise to the closing quote for the day, they were in the game and were taking advantage of every opportunity to learn about the 1980 Olympics, and the legendary coach who proved that  “impossible is just a degree of difficulty.”

It was one of the best classroom experiences of my life, and according to the students, it was an enjoyable learning experience for them.

We talked about Herb Brooks, his dream, his strategy, his coaching technique, his players, his contribution to hockey, his family, his life and his untimely death. There were special moments that every teacher hopes for, learning moments when you can actually see and feel the light of discovery going on.  It usually appears in the eyes of a student, and it reflects itself in a smile of satisfaction that records the joy of learning in a beautiful grin that stretches from ear to ear.

On this night, I was fortunate to see this on the face of a softball coach who was worried about her team. I saw it in the eyes of a young man named Andrew who dreams of becoming a coach.  It was recorded in the honest comments of Kevin Brady who talked about his discoveries and his passion for sports.  I felt it in the handshake of a welcoming student named Matt. I found it in a polite and professional response from a student named Brett. This young man set the tone for our class by responding to a requst I made with dignity and class.

During our one minute drill at the end of the class, it was recorded in a special way in the comments of a thoughtful young man named Wyatt, and the perceptive comments about America that came from an Australian named Sarah.  Another student named Kevin tied the bow as it were, when he summarized what he learned about Herb Brooks. “It’s all about hard work, participation and family,“ he said.

Kitch and I came to California to deliver a guest lecture in a graduate class at St. Mary’s College. On this night we experienced the joy of teaching in a way that is the dream of every teacher.

Five years after my last class, I experienced one of the best classes of my lifetime. It was a moment of learning, friendship, sharing and discovery. It was a moment of opportunity, a moment of peace and contentment that filled the damaged heart of an old teacher who experienced once again the joy of teaching.

Sometimes one finds the Face of America in a classroom where students want to learn. I can say this with confidence because of my experience at St. Mary’s College.

Sometimes one finds the face of America in the heart and soul of a caring friend. I know this face.  It belongs to Julie Marvel, and Kitch and I were willing to travel 6,000 miles in our Prius to see this face surrounded by the students in her first graduate class.

Herb Brooks often told his players; “ Write your own book instead of reading someone else’s book about success.”

Kitch and I came to California to help a friend teach her students how to write their own book. It produced a dream, a journey and an evening in a classroom at St Mary’s College that will never forget

Thank you Julie.

Until the next time, we hope that all of your stories have happy endings.

Please keep us in your prayers as we make our way to Oregon and the University of Portland, and always know of our gratitude for your help, kindness and support.

Please provide feedback to:
tmussari@gmail.com

Texas, New Mexico and Arizona : Searching for the Face of America 7000 feet Above the desert

By Tony Mussari

I am writing this note from Moraga, California, about 3,600 miles from home.

The past two weeks have been nothing short of spectacular.  We have made our way through 10 states: Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. In the past week we have experienced the enchanting beauty of New Mexico, treacherous driving conditions in the shadow of the Grand Canyon, the bizarre art of the Cadillac Ranch, a hair-raising windstorm in the Arizona desert,  bumper to bumper traffic on the 101 outside of Los Angeles, and the goodness and thoughtful hospitality of the American people wherever we were.

At the Cadillac Ranch on I-40 a few miles west of Amarillo, Texas, we met five students from Harding College, a Navy family relocating to California, and a fireman from Oklahoma and his family.  Their stories spoke to the heart and soul of our country and its many blessings.

The Cadillac ranch is a must stop for anyone traveling in this part of Texas. It isn’t beautiful. It isn’t breathtaking. It isn’t pretty, but it is a place that speaks to something that is deep in the American character. It is a place where anyone can leave their mark on any one or all of the ten Cadillacs planted in the ground by an independently wealthy man named Stanley Marsh.

For 36 years people have been walking, talking and gawking in the shadow of this unconventional monument to what Marsh called "The Golden Age of the American Automobile, 1949-1963.”

In Albuquerque, we spent the night with Dr. & Mrs. Robert Fugate.  They are better known to us as Marilyn and Bob because we are family. After a wonderful dinner at an excellent Italian restaurant and a good night’s sleep, Bob showed us what it is like 13 billion light years away from earth in outer space.  It was a humbling moment. Bob has spent a lifetime studying outer space, and his story is both compelling and instructive.

After our visit with the Fugates, we headed toward Gallup, New Mexico. and somewhere close to Gallup we stopped for a few minutes for fuel and a bite to eat.

During this stop, it was our good fortune to meet J. B. Mitchell and his wife Orlinda.  They graciously permitted us to take their picture and they shared their thoughts about America and their Navajo culture.  It was a very special moment for Kitch and me. We could feel the goodness of the Mitchells and the historical significance of their story.

In Flagstaff, Arizona, we spent the night in a Holiday Inn Express.  It was clean, comfortable and the employees were very service-oriented. For the most part, this was an R&R day, a chance to rest, rearrange the car and put things in order.

After we posted two articles in the Face of America blog, we checked out and started our drive to California. In less than three miles, we found ourselves in a blizzard that made driving very challenging. Fortunately for those of us behind him, the driver of a Federal Express truck set the tone for everyone on the highway. No one did anything that would create problems and after about 90 minutes of driving, aka 30 miles, we drove out of the whiteout conditions as we approached the desert floor.

Then we encountered another hazardous condition, wind. As the desert wind in Arizona and California pummeled our Prius, it responded with a flawless performance. We were able to hold our own.

Sometimes you find the Face of America on a snow covered highway or a wind swept desert.

Until the next time, we hope that all of your stories have happy endings.

Please keep us in your prayers and always know of our gratitude for your help, kindness and support.

Please provide feedback to:
tmussari@gmail.com

Oklahoma: Moments to Remember

By Tony Mussari

I am writing this note from Oklahoma. I must confess that I am favorably disposed to this beautiful place.  In another lifetime, I lived and died for an Oklahoma native named Mickey Mantle. If he did well, I had a good day.  If he did poorly, my day was ruined. Mickey Mantle was my boyhood hero. I tried to run as fast as he ran to first base, I tried to bunt like him and play centerfield like him.  I never accomplished any of these dreams, but they were the dreams that defined my childhood, and he was the baseball player I always wanted to be.

So here we are driving along Interstate 40 at 70 miles per hour gawking at the magnificent vistas that surround us. Our first stop was Tulsa, and the home of a man who once owned the ratings in America’s top television market, New York City.

If you lived in New York in the 1960s, you knew the name Dean Lewis.  He was legendary.

Today, he is a successful businessman who lives the American dream in a beautiful home with a wonderful wife, Marilyn, and the American family, three children and two grandchildren.

Spend some time with Dean and his wife and anything that is troubling you will disappear.  These are kind people, gifted people, generous people and thoughtful people. For them, life is an opportunity to confront and overcome challenges with positive thoughts and family support.

That’s how Marilyn faced her successful battle with lung cancer, and that’s the way Dean faces an illness that he has had for many years that no one has been
able to accurately diagnose.

In this home, there is much laughter and a lot of good will. This is a place where the American flag is prominently displayed and the news of the day is critically reviewed.

This is a home where life is good because the work is hard, the family is strong, education is revered and everyone understands that there is no such thing as a free lunch.

As we were leaving Tulsa, we stopped to visit with a group of people who personify the spirit and the substance of the First Amendment. In some ways, it was a flashback to the 1960s. In another respect, it was a reminder of the priceless benefit of freedom, the right to assemble.

A few hours later we were standing at a place in Oklahoma City that reminds everyone who visits that the price of freedom is not free.

The Oklahoma City Memorial is powerful, poignant, and peaceful.  The sights and sounds of this place penetrate deep into the heart and soul of everyone who visits.

This is a sacred place, a sanctified place, an unforgettable place. People talk softly here. They walk reverently beneath the towering walls and rippling water of the refection pool. They stop and stare at the empty chairs that memorialize the fallen, and often they shed a tear for the people who went to work and never came home on a beautiful April day in 1995.

The Face of America in Oklahoma City belongs to ranchers from Utah, a housewife from Kansas, a group of Boy Scouts from Oklahoma, a father holding his sleeping daughter, and a young couple recently transferred here to take the next step in a career that will enable them to provide a good home for their son, their first-born child.

This is a place where everything that is America on its best and worst days leaves a permanent mark on one’s soul.

This is a place where the faces of 168 men, women and children will live forever in the hearts of everyone who visits.

Sometimes you find the Face of America in a sacred place where the sadness of the past is recorded in beautiful ways that gives one comfort, strength, peace, hope, and serenity.

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Little Rock, Arkansas, Day 2: Open Doors and Open Hearts

By Tony Mussari

Spend a few days on the road and two things become apparent.  America is a big country with scenery that is breathtakingly beautiful.  Every state has its own natural treasures.

There is another characteristic that often is overlooked in the day-to-day drumbeat of news that all too frequently causes apprehension, fear, and suspicion.  Americans are fundamentally good-hearted people with a natural inclination to help others.

Shortly after we finished our interview with Nancy Rousseau, the principal at Central High School, she went to her computer and she wrote a note introducing us to her friend Skip Rutherford, the Dean of the Clinton School of Public Service.  Because of Nancy’s kindness, in less than 24 hour hours we were sitting in the renovated Choctaw train station that is the home of the Clinton School talking with Dean Rutherford about his work and students who are carrying the message of service with compassion to  countries around the world.

Skip Rutheford is an interesting, engaging, and down to earth person.  He is a masterful storyteller, an innovator and a man who dreams big dreams. For him, the classroom is the world and the goal is to teach students how to become leaders who will use their talents to make tomorrow better than today for the people they serve. Spend a few minutes with Skip Rutherford and you become convinced that our country and our world will be in good hands his students graduate.

Skip Rutheford was generous with his time, and before our visit ended he opened a door for us at the Clinton Library where we presented the 9/11 National Remembrance Flag to the Supervisory Archivist, Dana Simmons.  What a moment!

In Little Rock, Arkansas, we found the heart and soul of America.  People like Rett Tucker and Mark Abernathy who care about their community and the people who live there, two men who have literally changed the face of their city;  a young woman named Karhonda who has found redemption from a troubled past thanks to the mentoring of people like the Tuckers, the Abernathys and the Huies; a graduate student, J. Adam Penman who wants to become a member of America’s State Department team;  Veronica Gray, a mother who brought her family from Colorado to experience the magic of Central High School;  Brandon Hood, an employee at the Hampton Inn who is making something of his life because he wants to become a better person.

These are the Faces of America who speak for America on its best days.  These are the people who inspire us to keep on keeping on as we make our way to California and back.

Sometimes you find the Face of America when kind people open doors to help others.

Our next stop is Oklahoma. 

Until the next time, we hope that all of your stories have happy endings.

Please provide feedback to:
tmussari@gmail.com

ALittle Rock, Arkansas: Two Incredible Days

By Tony Mussari

I am writing this note from Arkansas. It will never do justice to what we have experienced here.  In less than two days, we recorded eight Face of America episodes. We had a teaching moment at the historic Central High School. We visited with the Dean of the Clinton School of Public Service, and we presented the 9/11 National Remembrance Flag to an archivist at the Clinton Presidential Library.

Far more important to us is the fact that we formed relationships with people that will last a lifetime, and bring us back to Little Rock for a screening of our Face of America project.

It might be hard to believe this, but most of what happened to us in Little Rock happened because of something I tried to teach to every student who took my Senior Seminar class.

It’s a simple lesson that I learned at home: “Always say thank you.”  The
Importance of gratitude was reinforced in an article I read entitled: “The art of saying thank you.”

How does this apply to our stay in Little Rock? you ask.

The answer is simple.

Shortly after we arrived, we went to a restaurant within walking distance of our hotel. The food at Dizzys was excellent and the service was just about perfect in every way. I felt compelled to say thank you, and I asked to see the owner.

As you might expect, the waitress obliged, and in a few moments Casey Huhie was sitting with us at our table. He introduced us to his wife, Darla, who is the force that makes Dizzy’s what it is, and the rest, as they say, is history.

We had instant rapport with Darla.  She liked the concept of our Face of America project.  She promised to look at our website.

We had a very good feeling about Darla and her husband, Casey, and so we decided to extend our stay in Little Rock an extra day.

The next morning we received a note and a call outlining some of the people Darla had arranged for us to meet.

Our whirlwind visit began at the place where the dark pages of our past ended for

our country and a bright future began for our country in 1957. In every sense of the word, this building is a magnificent monument to equality for all.  As Kitch and I walked along the hallways of this 85 year old high school, we could feel the spirit of the nine youngsters who withstood unimaginable pressures to help our nation cross the bridge to opportunities guaranteed for everyone in America.

The principal of Central High School, Nancy Rousseau, is a charming woman who welcomed us into the Central family.  She went out of her way to make our visit a positive and productive experience. Nancy is an educator’s educator.  She is bright, interesting and full of ideas that are designed to make education relevant to the students at Central.

Before we left the school, we presented the 9/11 National Remembrance Flag to the students of Central High School past and present. Nancy Rousseau intends to hang the flag in the hallway outside the principal’s office.

It doesn’t get much better than that.

Sometimes the face of America can best be found in two words, Thank You.

In our next report from the road, Kitch and I will tell you about our memorable visit to Little Rock.

Until the next time, we hope that all of your stories have happy endings.

Please provide feedback to:
tmussari@gmail.com

Tennessee: Highway Scenes, Music, Client Service and Context

By Tony Mussari

I am writing this note from Tennessee, a beautiful state with very few pretensions.  People drive very fast in the Volunteer State. The posted speed limit on I-40 is 70 miles an hour. For the most part, it is ignored. There are long stretches of concrete and asphalt that are bordered by lush farmland that reach from the shoulder of the road to the edge of the horizon.
 
State police set up speeding check points in several places along the highway, but they can’t be everywhere, and that’s what it would take to enforce the speed limit.
 
On this day tractor trailers,SUVs, sedans, and campers passed our Prius at speeds exceeding 70 MPH.
 
Our destination was Nashville by way of Gallatin and Port Juliet. In Gallatin, we sat in place for about 45 minutes while police and emergency vehicles surrounded an accident scene.  Much to our delight, no one blew their horn, no one screamed their displeasure peppered with salty language.  No one got upset.  People sat in their cars and waited patiently for the rescue workers to clear the accident scene.
 
In the south, people navigate the inconvenience of life with patience and prudence.
 
When the road reopened, Kitch and I made our way to an attractive red brick home in a suburban neighborhood.  There we spent the afternoon with a musician who plays the guitar with the mastery of a seasoned professional.  That’s exactly what Martin Young is, a professional. For 16 year, he was central to every performance of Clint Black. In his studio, there are several mementos of his accomplishments including a framed musician’s pass that lets every visitor know that on one special evening, Martin Young was a member of Paul McCartney’s performance.
 
Martin is the kind of person you would want to have as a neighbor and a friend. He is a positive, caring, helping person. On this day, he told stories about his experiences helping young, unpublished musicians take their first step into the business.
 
After our interview, he made our day with a performance of a few songs he has been working on. It was a special Face of America moment.
 
Our next stop was in Nashville at the historic Union Station. This architectural masterpiece is a national treasure. Once the epicenter of rail transportation in Tennessee, today it is a wonderful hotel where everything old is new again.  That includes a very personal and refreshing kind of service with a smile that was masterfully exemplified by just about everyone we met, and in our opinion, perfectly executed by a young man named Caleb Bennett.
 
From the moment we parked our Prius to the moment we left, Caleb did everything in his power to help us and give us a feeling of security about our car and its contents. He was accommodating in ways that made us feel very good about the hotel. In our opinion, Caleb Bennett has everything any employer would ever want in a person who is the first contact visitors have with a place like Union Station.
 
If you ever have cause to visit Nashville, we recommend Union Station as a place with friendly people, good food and a wonderful walk through the past in a way that meets all of the needs of someone traveling in the present.
 
Shortly after breakfast, we were on the road again matching wits with the guys who drive the big rigs along what we now refer to as the speedy car pike.
 
At 3:30 p.m. we stopped at a McDonalds in Brownsville, Tennessee to use the facilities.  There we met a man who has the quintessential Face of America, Bobby Johnson.
 
From the moment our eyes met, I knew there was something special about this Vietnam vet and grandfather of nine children. The story about his life on the road driving 18-wheelers is interesting and informative. His thoughts about America are blue collar solid and our brief encounter with him is one of the moments we will remember for years to come.
 
Our visit to Tennessee was short but very memorable and equally productive. There we got a good night’s rest thanks to the kindness and generosity of two of our dear friends who hosted our stay at Union Station.  We entered the state with the sights and sounds of the Trappist monastery in Bardsville, Kentucky in our hearts and souls.  We left the state with an extra bounce in our step thanks to a talented musician, an employee with a service-oriented disposition and a truck driver who explained in short sentences the rules of the road.

It doesn’t get much better than that, or at least we thought it wouldn’t, but it did. 
We will tell you about our amazing experiences in Arkansas the next time we have an opportunity to put our thoughts on paper.

Sometimes the face of America can best be found in the hearts of people who wake up every norning and try to ndo the right thing.

Until the next time, we hope that all of your stories have happy endings.

Please provide feedback to:
tmussari@gmail.com

Beginnings: Searching for the Face of America along the Blue Lined Roads of Pennsylvania

By Tony Mussari

It’s been quite a week.

We started our Face of America journey during a light snow shower in Windsor Park. As we drove our Prius toward the highway on February 28, it was a damp, cold, winter day. 

For sentimental reasons, we stopped in Centralia, PA.  Known to many as a “Ghost Town Burning,”  for us, it is the place where we got our first opportunity to make documentaries about hope, inspiration and service. In so many ways, this little town, the scene of the largest underground mine fire in America, defined much of what we would do and how we would do it for the next 30-plus years.

Driving along the deserted streets of Centralia, the names and faces of people we met in 1982 flashed through our minds. On this day, the only activity in the town was limited to cars moving too fast for conditions along Route 61, that was once the main street in the borough.  Gone are the shops, the houses, and the bank. The underground mine fire had claimed everything but three homes, the municipal building and St. Elizabeth’s Cemetery.

Fifty miles south of Centralia, the sights and signs of life were everywhere. When Katy Finn opened her door, we entered a home that is filled with the energy of two wonderful children, a new puppy and two parents who are the salt of the earth in our book.

For more than an hour we experienced a kind of hospitality that happens when caring friends are reunited. We laughed and talked about things that parents and grandparents talk about: children and the challenges they face in a wired world, schools and how they are changing in ways we never imagined, government, family and friends.

It was a wonderful reunion with moments we will cherish forever.

Just about the time we were saying good-bye to Katy and Bob, the weather changed.  By the time we reached the exit for the Lincoln Highway on our way to Shanksville, it was snowing. For this part of our journey, our positions were fixed right on the edge of our seats.

The back roads were snow covered and the scenery was beautiful. That being said, we were a bit on edge, because we realized that one false move might end any plans we had made for our trip to California.

With a lot of caution and a little bit of luck, we managed to conquer a snow covered Cherry Lane Drive, and in minutes were parked in  front of Janie Kiehl’s snow covered porch.

Inside the hospitality was warm and welcoming.  Our evening with Chuck and Jayne Wagner and Janie Kiehl was delightful.  It was a night of friendship in a place that holds many memories for Kitch and me. Since September 1, 2001, these three faces of America have been doing everything they can to honor the Heroes of Flight 93.  Theirs is a life of service to others, and this evening was not an exception.  They opened their hearts and their homes to Kitch and me, and forever we will be in their debt.

Sometimes the face of America can best be seen in the little acts of kindness we experience from our friends.

Our next stop will be in Kentucky. Until then, we hope that all of your stories have happy endings.

Please provide feedback to:
tmussari@gmail.com

The Face of America: Remembering Emily

By Tony Mussari & Kitch Loftus-Mussari
Copyright Mussari-Loftus Associates, 2010

I saw the Face of America to day in the ballroom of the Colony South Hotel in Clinton, Maryland.

I saw the Face of America today, it was beautiful, caring, compassionate, concerned, connected and determined to remember the wonderful life and brave deeds of a woman named Emily.
 
I saw the Face of America today it belonged to people who are rich and poor, young and old, parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, students and teachers.
 
I saw the Face of America today, it was diverse in all the ways that America is diverse, and radiant in all ways that diversity makes America strong and confident.
 
This Face of America belonged to a congresswoman named Edwards and her special assistant named Gore. It belonged to a philanthropist named James, and his wife Phyllis; it belonged to the grand dame of television news in Washington, D.C. JC Hayward.
 
This Face of America belonged to a soft spoken pastor named Deas, an interpretative dancer named Imani, a well spoken student named Eboni, and a charming board member named Carmen. It belonged to an enormously talented musician named Melinda, a still photographer named Lynette, and a service award honoree named Ingrid.
 
This Face of America belonged to Ellis and Robert, two Korean War veterans who looked young for their 80 plus years and their battle scars.
 
There were others, many others who I never got to meet.
 
You see, this Face of America is a magnificent collage of American faces.  It belonged to about 200 people who came to this place to carry on the work of the Emily they admire and respect.
 
During this evening of celebration, honor, service, sharing, and remembrance, this Face of America laughed a little, cried a little, thought a lot, and always stood in awe at the dignity, class and strength of Emily’s parents, Vicki and Daniel Perez.
 
These are parents with broken hearts. You can see it in their eyes.  You can hear it when they speak. You can feel it in every breath they take. They lost their daughter at a place they have never been and most likely they will never visit, somewhere in Iraq.  She was 23 and the most decorated Black Hispanic female cadet to ever graduate from West Point.
 
I saw the Face of America today in one of the most beautiful, emotional, and moving moments of my life.
 
It belonged to every man, woman and child who attended the third annual Emily J.T. Perez foundation banquet.
 
This Face of America is giving. This Face of America is serving. This Face of America is helping.  This Face of America is moving forward despite great pain and sadness.
 
This is a Face of America without equal just like the person we came here to honor, 2d Lt. Emily Perez, because this face of America is making a difference in the lives of young women who will one day become the next Emily Perez.
 
This Face of America is what Arthur Ashe called a hero’s face, because it radiates the urge to serve others at whatever cost, and that’s the face of America on its very best days.

That’s Emily’s Way.
 
To read a copy of the remarks we made at the Emily J.T. Perez Foundation Banquet, please go to:
http://www.windsorparktheater.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=4&Itemid=37

Please provide feedback on our contact page or directly to:

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or

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Leesburg Virginia, February 19, 2010

By Tony Mussari
Copyright: Mussari-Loftus Associates, LTD

It was about 4 p.m. when we spotted the colorful Virginia Welcomes You sign. It signaled the end to our drive from Windsor Park to Leesburg, Virginia.

But just when I thought we had everything under control, I made a bad decision, and we got lost.  It’s not an uncommon event for Kitch and me. We always manage to get lost.

Thankfully, we had our cell phone ready and with one call to my daughter, we were back on track.

Well, not quite. Soon after we reached our destination, I wanted to take a picture of the huge piles of snow that covered everything in sight. I fetched my Cannon Rebel, took my position, and then it happened. Nothing, absolutely nothing. The reason was simple, the battery I was charging was still charging in a room overlooking Windsor Park, more than 200 miles away.

Kitch volunteered to watch the grandchildren, and my daughter volunteered to show me the way to Best Buy.

Once there we found several client service-oriented people who were willing to help us.
On the way out, a very big man named John helped us test the new battery.  John was a very engaging fellow and his answer to one of my questions provided a very special moment.

While he was helping us, I noticed a very unusual tattoo on his left arm. In a polite way, I asked him to explain the symbolism. With a bit of embarrassment, he told me the story of a 17-year-old boy who had wanted the tattoo to give him credibility with his fellow rappers.  Then, without hesitation, he added, “You do things at 17 that you wish you hadn’t done when you are 37.”

The rest of the afternoon we played with the children, and at the appointed hour got in our car and drove the Evergreen Mill Elementary School to attend a Bedtime Stories event.

To be quite honest, Kitch and I were newcomers to this creative idea.  It’s a way to get family members, students and teachers involved in an event that emphasizes reading.

On this night, there were six classroom sessions and a grand finale in the library.

In the music classroom Caroline Milne read Froggy Gets Dressed. It was a wonderful experience for everyone who attended.

In Classroom 19, Kim Cheshire read Stanley’s Party.

In Classroom 20, Michelle Talliaferro presented the Frog Prince Continues.

In Classroom 21, Chris Munley presented How I Became a Pirate.

In Classroom 22, John and Wendy Bognar presented Caps for Sale.
Geo
In Classroom 24, Dino Coppa presented Curious George.

Mr. Blakeney and his EMS students presented Froggy’s First Kiss for everyone in the library.

It was our good fortune to attend How I Became a Pirate, Froggy Gets Dressed, Curious George and Froggy’s First Kiss.

Each presentation was an excellent example of creative teaching and purposeful participation by students and parents.

It was a classic Face of America moment. Students were learning, parents were teaching, people were participating and a community was forming in an elementary school filled with children in their pajamas.

It was a happy moment, a community moment, an educational moment, and most important it was a reading moment.

We came to Leesburg to visit our grandchildren and their parents, and we went to school where we learned that their education was in very good hands.

It doesn’t get any better than that.

On Saturday morning, my son-in-law taught me the fine points of my UPS device, and after breakfast we were on our way to the next stop on our Face of America journey.

In some ways, this was a very short stop, 18 hours.  It other ways, it was one of the most enjoyable visits because it was filled with magic moments. Watching my granddaughter dance under an umbrella to Mike Lewis’ song Umbrellas in the Sun and accepting a gift of a mini-Twix bar from my 4-year-old grandson who extended his hand and said, “Papa Tony and Grand Kitch, this is for you, I am sharing,” caused us to leave Virginia with smiles on our faces.

Eric Hoffer was right, Children are the keys of paradise.

Until the next time we hope that all of your stories have happy endings.

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February 8, North Plainfield, New Jersey

By Tony Mussari
You can never do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late. Ralph Waldo Emerson

February 8, was a 16 hour day. Kitch and I spent 5 hours in our Prius driving 270 miles. The rest of the time was spent recording 4 community service visits, recording 7 interviews, and covering a 100th anniversary celebration of the Boy Scouts of America.
It was a long day filled with magic moments of leadership, learning, service, caring and sharing.

It began in a fire station, and it ended at a community landmark.  Everything in between was rich in the ways of the heart.

Our First stop was the North Plainfield Municipal Building. Once there, thirteen cheerleaders checked in at the desk, and then they made their way around the building to the fire station.

They were greeted by Fire Chie William Eaton and Police Chief William Parente.  After an exchange of pleasantries, the co-captains of the cheerleading squad presented two American flags as a symbol of gratitude for the work of both departments to keep the people of North Plainfield safe.

It was a signature moment for both men. They, in turn, complimented the students with words that made them feel 10 feet tall.

Church Visit

Our next stop was the Covenant United Methodist Church. Located on Front Street, this church sits with dignity and class behind towering trees that give it definition and distinction. In a word, this church looks inviting from the outside, and, as we soon discovered, it is very welcoming on the inside.

Pastor Frank Davis took us to a conference room across the hall from the church office, and there the North Plainfield cheerleaders presented several bags of clothing for the earthquake victims in Haiti. Reverend Davis was visible moved, and he was quick to shower words of grace and gratitude on students.

Davis was most impressed by what he called their willingness to think of others not about themselves. “These young ladies want to help,” he said, “They want to make it a reality. It is a classic example, people can come together to make a difference in peoples’ lives.”

On our way to the food pantry, Pastor Davis took the students on a tour of his church, and he explained the basic tenants of Methodism.

In a large room beneath the sanctuary, four members of Starfish Social Services were waiting for us. Standing behind a table, Edna Shanok, Mr. & Mrs. Jack O’Malley and Harry Mayer accepted bags food from several of the students.

Then it happened. People began to talk about their thoughts and emotions and a magnificent collage of heartfelt and caring words emerged.

Harry Mayer told the students it was wonderful to see young people doing something good.

Edna Shanok expressed her fears with these words:

“I wonder what will happen when we get to old to do this kind of work. This gives me hope that you will take our place in caring for those who need help.

Sheila O’Malley was unequivocal in her compliments:

“You give us hope. Your parents and teachers have done a wonderful job.”

Jack O’Malley, a retired teacher, was nothing short of inspirational when heshared these words:

“It’s really uplifting. Theses students prove that all kids are not bad. Kids in ever generation get a bad rap because the things that make the news are all negative.
You are an example to be followed by your peers.

The students were equally eloquent in their comments.

Christianna Blue put it this way: “America is about giving and helping. I am so grateful that we can help”

Toni Costello said the moment made her proud of herself and the other cheerleaders.

Amanda Aponte saw a connection to the annual community service trip to Shanksville, Pennsylvania. “In Shanksville we were trying to help the relatives of people who died,” she said, “here we are trying to help the relatives of people who are alive and struggling.

Washington Rock

The community service field trip ended at Washington Rock, a strategic outlook for George Washington during the Revolutionary War. There, the cheerleaders placed 13 flowers to honor the veterans of that war and every war.

We stopped for lunch at a local pizzeria, and then it was back to the school. For the rest of the afternoon cheerleaders came to our makeshift studio in storage room adjacent to the library. They shared their reactions and the things they learned during this very special day.

They talked about the joy of giving, the need to become more involved in the community, and the privileges we too often take for granted. Several students told me how good it felt to be appreciated, and one person told me that on this day she learned that America is just perfect.

Happy Birthday Scouts

Later that evening Kitch and I would experience this sense of perfection at a candlelight ceremony honoring the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America.

Looking into the faces of these youngsters, their parents, their scoutmasters and the community leaders who were part of this celebration that comment reverberated in my mind.

Listening to mayor, Michael Giordano, read a proclamation celebrating the Boy Scouts and Troop 235, Patriots’ Path Council, I felt a sense of pride about our country and our democratic government that is deeply rooted in law and respect for individual rights.

The flickering candles reminded me of Washington’s men warmed during those cold winter nights by campfires. It’s a scene that has repeated itself many times over, in places near and far, where Americans give testimony to the sacred words of 1776:

We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Then, we were 13 colonies. On this day we were 13 students learning about life, love, compassion and country. What they learned is best described in  the teaching of Mussar: “Our deeds have the remarkable power not just to help others, but also to make ourselves better.”

February 8, was a 16 hour day filled with rich images of a Face of America that cares about others, and that’s a beautiful thought for any day.

Photographs By

Kitch Loftus-Mussari