Posts Tagged ‘New Jersey’

Atlantic City in October

Sunday, November 2nd, 2014

Atlantic City in October
Sharing the Story of Honor and Valor with a Group of Educators in New Jersey

Written by Tony Mussari, Sr.
Edited by Kitch Loftus-Mussari
Photographs by Tony Mussari
Copyright Mussari-Loftus Associates, LTD 2014
All Rights Reserved

From sandals to stilettos and foie gras to funnel cakes, Atlantic City offers something for everyone. The Atlantic City Alliance

On a sun-drenched October afternoon, our Face of AmericaIMG_6489 journey took me to Atlantic City. Unfortunately, I was flying solo, something I rarely do. Kitch was attending the funeral service for one of her childhood friends. Kathy had entered a hospital in California for a hernia operation. During the procedure one of the members of the surgical team nicked an artery. Kathy died from internal bleeding.

An adaptation of the words of Mary Shelley accurately describes Kitch’s state of mind as she dealt with this tragedy:

She was determined to transfer her love and support to the members of Kathy’s family.

On the Boardwalk

Kitch loves the ocean.

If Gustave Flaubert had asked this of Kitch, I have no IMG_6495doubt what her answer would have been:

Doesn’t it seem to you that the mind moves more freely in the presence of that boundless expanse, that the sight of it elevates the soul and gives rise to thoughts of the infinite and the ideal?

Absolutely!

Knowing her feelings about the ocean, my first stop after I registered was a visit to the boardwalk. With camera in hand, I took several pictures that were designed to give Kitch a feel for the atmosphere, the place and its surroundings.

One of my favorite shots speaks to what I found at the ocean. There was only one person on the beach and a few seagulls circling above.

Reunion

Shortly after 6 p.m., I joined Tom Kasper, Linda Bond Nelson and Dr. Marilyn Birnbaum. Tom and Linda are school board members in North Plainfield, New Jersey. Dr. Birnbaum was the Superintendent of Schools during the years Kitch and I volunteered as teachers with a camera in the school district.

Tom, Linda and Marilyn are excellent representatives ofIMG_6521 North Plainfield. They are committed to the school district in all the ways that matter. Above and beyond that, they are nice people to be with.

For more than three hours we exchanged stories, and we got to know one another in the ways that neighbors and friends know one another.

We talked about the problems School Board Members face, the merits and demerits of No Child Left Behind, the ways in which the digital revolution is changing education, and the challenge facing those who want to maintain traditional values like accountability, character, integrity, discipline, and respect.

As you might expect a good part of our conversation focused on entitlement and the emphasis on “me” in a world of histrionics and entertainment.

At one point in our conversation, I felt so comfortable; I shared my lifetime struggle with anxiety. It’s been my demon since I was a child, and as I get older it seems to become even more of a challenge. It is particularly vexing before and during a location shoot or any kind of presentation.

As an editor and producer, my brain is programmed to find imperfections and correct them. I worry about the things that can and often do go wrong. As a teacher, I was committed to teaching the principles of critical thinking, customer service, and planning to avoid unpleasant situations.

The most memorable moment of our reunion happened when Dr. Birnbaum told the story of a recent controversy that put North Plainfield on the CBS News. It involved an act of prejudice against North Plainfield athletes before a high school football game. When a reporter asked a North Plainfield student about his reaction, He replied, “Here in North Plainfield there is only one color…Maroon…that’s our school color.”

The Event

At 11 a.m., the educators who wanted to see our Graphicdocumentary, Four Days of Honor and Valor in Gettysburg, were in their seats in room 409. After a brief introduction in which I thanked, Tom Kasper for suggesting this event, Dr. Birnbaum for supporting the work we did in North Plainfield, the school board members from North Plainfield who were in the audience for their help and encouragement, Kitch for her unwavering support and Diane Morris, the staff member from the New Jersey School Boards Association who was responsible for organizing all of the workshops at the conference.

The lights were dimmed, and for the next hour, I sat in the back of the room observing the audience as they watched the documentary. It’s amazing how much you can learn by watching body language during a screening. In this instance, it was all positive save for one young man who arrived late. During the screening, his head remained down and his eyes were focused on his Smart phone as he texted for more than 40 minutes. He left the room before the documentary ended.

Such is reality in the digital age.

Feedback

Ask any documentary filmmaker, and they will tell you the most anxious time is before the screening begins, and the most important time is during the Q&A session.

On this day, we were blessed with participants who wanted to share their opinions.
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An historical reenacter invited everyone in the group to an event in Gettysburg. His reaction to the documentary was short and to the point: “It is excellent.”

A teacher who had served in the military liked the information about the Medal of Honor Convention and the values the students learned from the experience.

A woman who described herself as a mom was impressed by the story, and she said these are the values her students and others must learn to live a good life. Her friend reinforced that point.

A woman said she came to the workshop because of the material she read in the program, but she found the documentary to be so much more beneficial than she had expected.

A man in the very first row identified himself as a former U.S. Marine. He liked the message of patriotism and service.

Virtually everyone who offered a comment shared these two thoughts. This film should have been shown to the entire convention. It should be shown in every high school in America.

Memorable Moments

After the session ended a teacher approached me to discuss the film. She told me she wants to show it to her students, but it will be a challenge making the time to do it. Nevertheless, she is going to do her best to make it happen.

Before, I left the room, Dr. Marilyn Birnbaum former Superintendent of Schools in the North Plainfield School District said something that touched my heart in a very special way” “You are the first person to see it all. You captured who and what we are. Please stay in touch.”

Our IMG_6512_AC_FFCworkshop at the convention attracted about 25 people. By conventional standards, that is not a large number. If, however, you see beyond the obvious and connect with what these people felt and said, the workshop was a success.

There were no sandals, stilettos, foie gras or funnel cakes in room 409 of the Atlantic City Convention Center. There were, however, educators who appreciated the work and want to help get the message recorded in Four Days of Honor and Valor in Gettysburg to a much larger audience in schools across the country so that teachers and parents can help students better understand the importance of character, integrity, gratitude, kindness and service in leading a quality life.

In my opinion, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Thank you, North Plainfield for giving an old teacher with a camera an opportunity to tell this story.

Thank you, NJSBA for hosting this event.

Thank you to the people who took the time to attend the event and capitalize on what was offered. In my opinion, you are the Face of America on its best day, and I am in your debt

Please provide feedback to:
tony.mussari@gmail.com

Magic Moments in North Plainfield, Part 1

Sunday, May 18th, 2014

Magic Moments in North Plainfield, Part 1

Written by Tony Mussari, Sr.
Edited by Kitch Loftus-Mussari
Photographs by Kitch and Tony Mussari
Copyright 2014
Mussari-Loftus Associates
The Face of America Project

Moons and years pass by and are gone forever, but a beautiful moment shimmers through life a ray of light. Franz Grillparzer

Some days the sun cannot find a higher place in the sky.Sky_5_13_8555 The cloud formations are more beautiful than any words can describe. Wherever you look, you see things that produce a kind of joy that is best described by Amanda Gore in her new book, Joy Is an Inside Job and It’s Free:

Joy is the constant light within us that guides us from fear to hope.

True Happiness is joy. It is connected to God, and it serves others in some way.

For Kitch and me, gratitude is the mother of virtue and the expressway to happiness and joy.

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May 9, 2014, was a joy-filled day. It began early in the morning when Kitch and I entered the North Plainfield High School to participate in the first of two screenings of our documentary Four Days of Honor and Valor in Gettysburg.

The day ended 14 hours later in a Ruby Tuesday restaurant when, like two teenagers celebrating a big event, we shared a delicious piece of New York cheesecake. Everything in between was pure joy.

This is our attempt to thank the people who made this day so special.

Kindness

Debbie Mayo is the head custodian at the North Plainfield HighDebbie_2_8279 School. She is an excellent representative of the people who live in North Plainfield as well as those who are associated with the school district. She is helpful and kind. She goes out of her way to make visitors feel welcome, and she always has something nice to say to the people she meets.

On this morning, Debbie was the first person we met, and she made us feel at home with nine words:

“It’s always good to see you in North Plainfield.”

Debbie’s comment set the tone for this day of magic moments. It reinforced the truth of John Lubbock’s advice:

A kind word will give more pleasure than a present.

Thoughtfulness

Tom Mazur is the Director of Fine, Professional and Performing Screening 1_2AA_IMG_8045Arts in the North Plainfield School District. He is an accomplished actor, composer and musician. He organized all of the events for our visit, and he attended to all the little details that would guarantee the success of the events. Tom was our host for the screening, and he did everything he could to make us feel comfortable in our home away from home.

When we entered the parking lot, we saw him carrying a construction cone to reserve a parking place for our car. He expedited the security process at the entrance to the high school. He introduced us to Susan Loyer a newspaper reporter for the Courier News. He coordinated all of the technology for the screening, and he arranged the schedule so that we could have some down time between the morning and the evening events.

On this day, Tom’s actions gave meaning to the words of Helen Keller:

No one ever became poor by giving.

Awakening

As we walked to the auditorium we saw students checking out theScreening 1_IMG_8045 learning stations that comprise an award winning Holocaust exhibit. It was created by middle school students and their teachers to reduce discrimination and prejudice. The exhibit is a poignant and powerful example of creative teaching and effective learning.

As I watched the students taking notes and sharing their thoughts with one another, the words of my favorite definition of teaching put these scenes in perspective.

I am not a teacher, but an awakener. Robert Frost

Sharing

Before the morning screening began, Susan Loyer asked me to sit with her in the back of the auditorium for an interview. While we Screening 1_2d_IMG_8045were discussing the origin and purpose of the Medal of Honor Project our conversation was interrupted by Mark Havrilla.

Mark participated in our 2012 documentary project, Walking into the light at Gettysburg. He is a fine young man with a deep sense of patriotism and a strong desire to serve his country. He once explained his thoughts about America with these words:

America is the last frontier of hope and opportunity. Here anything is possible… America has perfected its values and adjusted its cultural views to adapt to the changing world around it. The United States is unique… the American spirit and the goal that every American shares to be the best they can be.

His face was beaming with pride when he shared his good news. He had signed the official orders to enter the U.S. Marine Corps.

This unexpected moment reflected the insight of W. Clement Stone’s thought:

If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share.

Community

Six students participated in the Medal of Honor Project. All of them attended the morning screening at the high school. Each one ofAdrianas comment them was courteous and polite. One of them decided to sit next to Kitch and me during the event.

Adriana Miranda is a senior. She participated in both of our educational experiences in Gettysburg. She is a thoughtful young woman who is very disciplined and mature for her age. She has a dream, and next year she will enter a program that will enable her to realize her dream.

While she watched the documentary, she expressed her gratitude in a very personal way. She held Kitch’s hand and mine. The verse of Philip James Bailey best describes this moment:

We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths; in feelings, not figures on a dial. We should count time by heart-throbs. He most lives who thinks most, feels noblest, acts the best.

The first words I heard after the enthusiastic applause of the students came from Susan Loyer:

“This documentary is excellent.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I watched two students walk to the front of the auditorium to express their reaction privately. ‘It was so encouraging. It was inspirational.”

After I shook their hands and expressed my thanks, and before they turned to walk away one of the students looked me in the eye and quietly said these words: “I will never forget it.”

Screening 1_4_IMG_8045

As I was catching my breath, a very pleasant man stepped forward. At first I thought he was a young teacher. I was wrong. He is the father of one of the students who participated in the project. His words of appreciation were straightforward and unconditional. We had an instant connection rooted in respect and mutual admiration. As we talked about his son, his potential and his future, I was again reminded that this is the place and these are the people who are the Face of America’s tomorrow today.

There is but one word that accurately describes the atmosphere in the auditorium as the students made their way to their classrooms, jubilation.

An adaptation of the words of Ernestine Gilbreth Carey best describes the impact of this Magic Moment in North Plainfield, New Jersey:

In a person’s lifetime there may be not more than half a dozen occasions that he can look back to in the certain knowledge that right then, at that moment, there was room for nothing but happiness in our hearts.

(To be continued in Part 2)
Please provide feedback to: tony.mussari@gmail.com

 

Dr. Marilyn Birnbaum: A Leader With Dignity & Class

Thursday, May 1st, 2014

Dr. Marilyn Birnbaum: A Great Leader, A Quiet Hero and An Inspiration with Dignity and Class

Written by Tony Mussari, Sr.
Edited by Kitch Loftus-Mussari 
Photographs Kitch Loftus-Mussari,
Tony Mussari, Sr. & Eugene Flood
Copyright 2014
The Face of America Project
Mussari-Loftus Associates, LTD

A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be. Rosalynn Carter

I had the good fortune to meet Superentedent of Schools Dr.a_20yardline7 Marilyn Birnbaum on Thanksgiving Day at a high school football game in 2009. We were blessed with an instant connection.

I was taken by her welcoming way and her enthusiastic support for personal growth through hard work in the classroom.

She appreciated our non-commercial approach to documentary filmmaking. She understood our effort to provide challenging and interesting educational experiences for students. She liked our idea to help students make memories that would enable them to find the best edition of themselves.

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From that day to this, Dr. Birnbaum has done everything she could to facilitate our search for the Face of America on its best day in North Plainfield, New Jersey.

In a very real way, her leadership style and educational philosophy encompass the key attributes of “Servant Leadership.” That is one of the concepts we wanted to share with her students while we were producing documentaries in two Pennsylvania towns that personify honor and valor, Gettysburg and Shanksville.

Dr. Marilyn Birnbaum is the consummate professional.

She knows her strengths and her weaknesses.
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She believes that good teachers are awakeners.

She likes to be with people, and she knows that little things like answering messages in a timely fashion mean a lot. In this respect, she honors the advice of Arthur Conan Doyle and the caution of L.M. Montgomery:

It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important.

It’s dreadful what little things lead people to misunderstand each other.

IMG_3768smShe is a good team member. She is available, dependable and reliable.

She can put things in perspective, because she can see beyond the obvious.

She has the courage and the will to do the right thing, not the easy or pragmatic thing. She follows the example of Maya Angelou:

All of us knows, not what is expedient, not what is going to make us popular, not what the policy is, or the company policy – but in truth each of us knows what is the right thing to do. And that’s how I am guided.

She is enthusiastic about learning.

She does not let her critics define her.
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She knows that without risk, there can be no progress.

She is a hopeful and welcoming person who is always willing to open the door to new ideas. She agrees with Anne Lamott:

Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don’t give up.

She is an excellent communicator.

She takes responsibility for her choices, and she does not blame others for her failures.

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She is quick to apologize when she makes a mistake. She honors Ben Franklin’s dictum:

Never ruin an apology with an excuse.

She is goal-oriented, and sensitive to the needs of the people she is leading.

She has a good sense of humor, and she is not afraid to laugh at herself.

For her, flexibility is a key to success.

She actively listens with her heart as well as her head.

She knows that everyone needs encouragement, and she graciouslyIMG_7396 provides it. When Celeste Holm spoke these words, she reaffirmed one of Dr. Birnbaum’s deeply held beliefs:

We live by encouragement and die without it — slowly, sadly, and angrily.

She is a gratitude person who appreciates the power of affirmation.

She knows the value of private consultation, mediation and reconciliation.

She is a service-oriented person who has not succumbed to the narcissism of our time.

She knows that success in not a matter of luck. It is the result of attitude, inconvenience, industry, discipline and sacrifice.

She understands the importance of Janette Rankin’s words:

You can take people as far as they want to go, not as far as you want them to go.

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For Dr. Marilyn Birnbaum, “we” is more important than “I,” and actions speak louder than words.The words of Marva Collins resonate with her:

If children fail, it’s about me, not them. I tell my students, if you think excellence is difficult, you don’t want to try failure.

When I think about the priceless moments Kitch and I shared with Dr. Birnbaum, an adaptation of the words of William Penn come to mind:

She understood our desire to be teachers with a camera, and she used her influence and power to help us do what we love to do. She was a courageous defender of our documentary philosophy, and she remains a friend to this day.

The news of her retirement in July of this year created a veryIMG_3985_MBS sentimental moment for Kitch and me.

George Eliot gave us a perfect description of Dr. Marilyn Birnbaum, her greatest gift and her legacy:

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The presence of a noble nature, generous in its wishes, ardent in its charity, changes the lights for us: we begin to see things again in their larger, quieter masses, and to believe that we too can be seen and judged in the wholeness of our character.

Thank you, Dr. Birnbaum for changing the light for everyone in the North Plainfield School District.

Thank you, for your kindness and your belief in our work.

Thank you, for being a quiet hero who went to work every day with a burning desire to help others.

Thank you, for exemplifying America at its best with dignity and class.

May your retirement be blessed with good health, great memories and many joyful moments.

Please provide feedback to:
tony.mussari@gmail.com

 

Gettysburg Gifts: Part 1

Friday, January 25th, 2013

The Illumined Gifts of a Teacher

Written by: Thomas A. Mazur, Supervisor: Fine, Practical & Performing Arts, North Plainfield School District, North Plainfield, New Jersey
Photographs by: Bill Gaydos & Kitch Loftus-Mussari
Copyright 2013 Face of America, Mussari-Loftus Associates, LTD

A celebration followed the premier of Tony Mussari’sEisenhower Inn_350 documentary “Walking Into the Light at
Gettysburg” (1/19/13). It was held at the Eisenhower Hotel and Convention Center just outside Gettysburg.

It was an appropriate and characteristic occasion to augment Mussari’s artful film, which elicited a
rousing standing ovation at its emotional conclusion in the Lenfest Theater at the Gettysburg National Military Park.

Walking graphic_250“Walking Into the Light at Gettysburg” was such an uplifting experience, the opportunity to sit, break
bread and chat afterwards was a pleasantry, only to be surpassed by demonstrations of the values that
were offered in the film.

A highlight of the banquet was the address by Dr. Stephen Post, Director of the Center for Medical
Humanities, Compassionate Care and Bioethics at Stony Brook University, New York.

Dr. Post is a man of many honors, awards and innovations. His address centered on the scientific evidence of the value of doing good, and its benefits to one’s health and well-being. At the conclusion of his talk, Dr. Post did not hide his best-selling book “The Hidden Gifts of Helping,” rather he gave it to everyone to take home as a gift.

Another rare and special highlight came when the MayorOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA of Gettysburg, William Troxell presented the key to his city to North Plainfield, New Jersey. The key was accepted by North Plainfield Board of Education Vice President, David Branan, Board member Thomas Kasper and North Plainfield Councilwoman, Mary Forbes.

The celebration concluded with a demonstration of OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA of kindness as Tony and his wife, Kitch presented a
thoughtful gift to everyone who participated in the special occasion. It was characteristic of them to
“walk the walk” and not just “talk the talk.”

The old professor paced a larger than usual classroom,
modeling the values he seeks in others, accenting the positive with passion and humility, giving illumined gifts to those who love and support his leadership.

Dwight D. Eisenhower would have approved.

Heroes without Headlines: The Bivouac of the Dead

Monday, May 28th, 2012

Heroes without Headlines: The Bivouac of the Dead, Memorial Day 2012

Written by Tony Mussari
Photographs by Kitch Loftus-Mussari
Copyright 2012
Mussari-Loftus Associates
The Face of America Project
faceofamericawps.com

On fame’s eternal camping ground
Their silent tents to spread,
And glory guards, with solemn round
The bivouac of the dead.  Theodore O’Hara

Gratitude, Honor, Respect

On this day we remember the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. This day of national gratitude, honor and respect was first observed after our tragic Civil War. In 1868 it was called Decoration Day. Today we know it as Memorial Day.

At dawn we lowered our flags to half-staff to memorialize the 1,317,764-plus men and women who have died in military conflicts in American history.  At noon, we will lift the flags to full-staff to symbolize that their sacrifice was not in vain.

Recently, Kitch and I visited Gettysburg, the site of the greatest and most defining battle of the Civil War. We went there with ten students from North Plainfield High School in New Jersey and six of the adults who helped to make the trip possible.

For two days we immersed ourselves in the history and significance of the most visited battlefield in the United States.  We wanted to make history come alive for the students. In so doing, we believed they would learn some important things about life.

One of the most poignant moments of the visit happened on Little Round Top. We were standing on the rocks overlooking the beautiful and vast expanse below.  You could almost hear the sights and sounds of the battle as Bruce Rice, our licensed battlefield tour guide, was explaining the unfathomable loss of life and suffering that produced 51,000 casualties in three days. Something he said evoked the words William C. Oates used to document what happened here:

“The blood stood in puddles in some places on the rocks.”

That haunting word picture gave new meaning to words like bravery, courage, honor, love of country, loss, and sacrifice.  Words that are frequently used in situations like this, but are seldom, if ever, fully understood.

Most of the soldiers, who fought, died and were injured at Gettysburg sanctified places like Devil’s Den, the Wheat Field, the Peach Orchard, Little Round Top, Cemetery Ridge, Cemetery Hill and Culp’s Hill.  For the most part, they were young, and they believed in their cause. The story of this battle and the soldiers who fought it is preserved in memorable ways in this 6,000 acre national treasure. There are almost 2,000 monuments in the Gettysburg National Military Park. It is so alluring, so beautiful, so big, so intriguing and so sad; it makes an indelible impression on one’s subconscious that keeps calling you back to the holy ground so artfully described by Barbara Platt in her book appropriately titled, This is Holy Ground.

Far Out and Beyond

You will find the names of Civil War veterans inscribed on monuments in lesser known cities and towns across our commonwealth and our country.  In fact, three women from Boalsburg, a small town in central Pennsylvania, are given credit for starting the national observance of Decoration Day.

In Danville, PA, 110 miles north of Gettysburg, a three-acre Memorial Park features an impressive 73 foot stone obelisk called Soldiers Monument.  It was dedicated on Memorial Day in 1908. It features four statues that celebrate the soldiers who fought in the civil war.

One of the most compelling figures of a Civil War soldier stands on a platform above a bronze marker engraved with these words in Latin:

O Fortunata Mors
Quae
Naturae Debita
Pro
Patria Est Potissimun

Dr. Richard Loomis tells me the accurate translation of this historic tribute is: “O fortunate death which, due to nature, is most preferably paid for one’s native country.”

On another side of the obelisk, a statue of a goddess stands on a platform above the tribute: In memory of the soldiers and sailors of Montour County who fought for the preservation of the Union.

The marker on the third side of the obelisk records two dates: 1861 and 1865.

The title of the marker on the fourth side of the base of the obelisk reads: Lincoln at Gettysburg. The Gettysburg Address is engraved below this title.

Monuments to those who served in the Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam are prominently displayed in other parts of the memorial park.

Who is Thomas Moore?

Wilkes-Barre, PA, is nestled between the Appalachian Mountains along the Susquehanna River, 145 miles north of Gettysburg. One section of the city is dedicated to Civil War generals.  The centerpiece of this neighborhood is the GAR Memorial High School located between Grant and Sherman Streets.  

The Hollenback Cemetery in Wilkes-Barre has a picturesque Civil War memorial.  Located on the top of the highest hill in the cemetery, the memorial was financed by the local chapter of The Grand Army of the Republic and erected in 1918 by “General Hancock’s Circle No. 9, L of the GAR”.

While visiting this site, I discovered a tombstone. It had a GAR marker supporting an American flag.  The inscription on the marker read:
“Thomas Moore SCT 3RD PA HA 152 ND PENN. VOLS.”  

My eyes were drawn to this headstone, and my mind was filled with questions. Who was this man?  When did he enter the Union Army?  Did he fight at Gettysburg?  Was he a Gettysburg casualty or survivor? These are questions without answers. They are similar to questions I had when Kitch and I visited a cemetery in western Pennsylvania.

There we found bronze flag supports for Confederate and GAR soldiers.

When noon approaches, we will follow protocol and raise the flags flying over Windsor Park to full-staff. When we do that, we will think about the private moments of honor and remembrance we experienced during our Face of America journey in Lafayette, California, at The Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial in Marseilles, Illinois, the Vietnam Memorial in Emmet Park Savannah, Georgia, The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri, Mount Rushmore, South Dakota and the unforgettable evening ceremony honoring veterans of all wars,the Gettysburg National Military Park and the cemetery at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

We will honor the 3 P.M. moment of silence, and we will give thanks for the service of every veteran we know, every veteran who has served our country and every veteran who has passed on to receive their eternal reward.

We will end this Memorial Day with a visit to the hand crafted memorial for our inspiration 2d LT. Emily Perez.  There we will recite the final two stanzas of Theodore O’Hara’s poem The Bivouac of the Deadin:

Rest on embalmed and sainted dead!
Dear as the blood ye gave;
No impious footstep here shall tread
The herbage of your grave;
Nor shall your glory be forgot
While Fame her record keeps,
For honor points the hallowed spot
Where valor proudly sleeps.

Yon marble minstrel’s voiceless stone
In deathless song shall tell,
When many a vanquished ago has flown,
The story how ye fell;
Nor wreck, nor change, nor winter’s blight,
Nor time’s remorseless doom,
Can dim one ray of glory’s light
That gilds your deathless tomb.

Thank you for your service to America. God bless you, and God bless America.

Please provide feedback to:
tony.mussari@gmail.com