Another Independence Day has passed. The 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holiday's. I have always experienced reverence, and deep love, when reading and studying of the United States of America. When I was in college, I had the blessing and opportunity of increasing that love, by singing in a great American singing group, "The Grand Land Singers."...

We were young college age students who, not only sang about this great country but, worked with hundreds of elementary schools, teaching the basic principles of the Constitution of the United States of America.... Our dear Connie Rogers inspired a program called, "Project Patriotism." (Later changed to, "Discover Your America.") These two programs helped us in implementing a week of fun activities, learning about and celebrating this great nation, with elementary school kids.

We ate drank and slept Grand Land Singers. (Sleep was optional.) We practiced each Tuesday night from 7-11 and Saturday mornings from 7-10.

We usually had 1-3 performances a week many which were hours away from our base which was in Cerritos, California. We traveled by bus or plane to cities all over the United States, but most of the time we all drove at our own expense to the varied performances.

We sang for Presidents to paupers; anyone who had a love for our great country; President Ezra T Benson, Presidents Nixon and Reagan, Charlton Heston, Debbie Reynolds, Bob Hope to name very few of great people we had the opportunity to meet and perform for.

We preformed hundreds of thousands of people in many different venues; Cherry Blossom Festival Washington DC, The Rose Bowl, Bob Hope's Teluca Lake Home, Disneyland, Freedom's Foundation Valley Forge, and thousands of schools.We received the George Washington Medal of Freedom, 5 different times.

I am so grateful for those Grand Land Singer opportunity's, memories, and friends. We are friends still, this many years later, (and I mean MANY) because of the bonds that were built by standing for something bigger than ourselves.

This Nation is bigger than any one person. As a Democratic Republic we rise from where we are, to be better, because that is who we are. This nation was blessed by God Himself.