God Bless America
Nov 9th, 2007 by Accidental Thinker
On a sunny weekend in mid-September 2001, we spent an afternoon at Walt Disney World, as we often do, being locals with annual passes. Specifically, we were at Epcot, where my brother-in-law sings as a member of the a cappella “Voices of Liberty” group at the American Adventure.
What made this performance of Americana more special than normal was that it was the first weekend post 9/11, and patriotic feelings were running particularly high. But the moment that brought me goosebumps came when the group sang God Bless America. Just as the first words from this melody sprang forth, Maia stood and began waving an American flag she had earlier been given outside. You would have thought she understood exactly what had happened in our nation just days earlier. But at not quite three years old, there’s no way she could have known what impact the solitary girl standing with her flag would have on the people around her. But she waved her little heart out and I think upstaged the singers that day.
After that, we decided to teach her the words to the song so that next time, she could sing along. A few days ago I stumbled across an old audio clip from my archives of a then barely three-year-old Maia belting out God Bless America. I share it here for your patriotic enjoyment.
Well, God Bless her little heart, even if it is November. Thanks.
Just in time for Veteran’s Day! Beautiful! I love to listen to kids sing. There’s something moving and pure about it.
(btw, I have a new CMS so the RSS feed is different.)
Absolutely precious! Bless her heart!