As a kid, I remember how exciting it was to pile into our station wagon and head off to the fireworks on the 4th of July. When it got dark one of the county fair princesses would sing the Star-Spangled Banner, and when she finished, we knew the show was about to begin. The “boomers” were the best. Man, we loved those flashes of light and BAM! Even though we knew that flash and boom were coming, we would jump every time. After the show, my parents would take us for an ice-cream cone on the way home. Being the youngest of us six boys, all my brothers wanted to sit by me just in case I couldn’t finish all my cone, which was usually the case because I was either too sleepy or too full.

I learned at a very young age that there is no country like the USA. The great American Patriot Nathan Hale, who prior to his execution by the British expressed, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” Or consider the words of the great Patrick Henry who once said, “I know not what course others may take but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.” These guys had some serious passion for their country.

For years I was thrilled to be a chaperone for the Clinton, Wisconsin Middle School’s 8th grade trip to Washington D.C. Most of the sleepy students who gather at 2:30 AM to venture off by bus to O’Hare airport in Chicago, have no idea what they are about to experience. It is impossible to walk the halls of our nation’s capital building, pass through the Whitehouse, visit the National Archives Museum, climb the steps of the Lincoln Memorial or stroll through Arlington National Cemetery without being moved to the core by the commitment and sacrifice of our past leaders and veterans of war.

Probably the most dramatic trip to D.C. was in 2001. We were delayed a few weeks that year on account of the terrorist attacks of 9-11, which occurred just days before our annual trip was scheduled to take place. I’ll never forget the silence of the students and chaperones as we passed the pentagon with a gaping hole in the side of the building, still smoldering with wisps of smoke rising into the sky. It was such an eerie feeling.

The very first time I had the privilege of visiting D.C. I was a junior in high school attending the FFA leadership conference in the summer of 1979. I remember our National FFA president was a young man named Bobby Tucker. He was only 21, but was already an ordained Southern Baptist Minister. He had great faith in Jesus and told us to be sure to notice all of the Biblical references and scriptures engraved on the monuments around that great historical city. I took notice of our Christian heritage on that trip and every one since.

It is amazing today to see the magnitude of our Judeo-Christian heritage at nearly every historical sight. It is clearly on display everywhere in our nation’s capital. Ours is a history saturated with men of God who had real faith and commitment in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. They worked to build and defend the government of this great land. We live in the greatest country on the face of the earth, and we serve a great God. Let’s remember this promise from Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”

— Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group. Scott Cernek is the pastor of the Peace Bible Church in Browntown.