Celebrate America!

Hey Everyone,

When I was little, I had an uncle who reminded me of John Wayne. The way he talked, his actions, the way he walked and the fact that he owned a horse. He was MY John Wayne. Every 24th of July, we would set up camp on 500 South and 200 East in Salt Lake City by the natural springs and watch the horse parade. The parade always kicked off the 24th of July Rodeo. Directly after the parade, the crowd would hurry to the bandstands at the Utah State Fairgrounds rodeo arena. Uncle Reed was a part of the Sheriff Posse. It was always so exciting to pick him out of the posse on his beautiful buckskin horse and then watch as the posse did formations in the rodeo arena later that night.

I watched every John Wayne movie that was ever made – yes even the ones that weren’t westerns. My all time favorite is True Grit. 

Why am I telling you all this? John Wayne recites a poem called America, Why I love Her. It was written by John Mitchum in 1973. I try to listen to this every July. It stirs my heart and soul as I watch the beautiful scenery of our great country. I hope you will take a moment to pause… click on the link below…. Celebrate the great country we live in and all those who selflessly helped us to thrive as individuals as well as collectively, as a nation.

God bless and LOVE YOU ALL!

Carrie

America, Why I Love Her is an album of poetry recited by John Wayne. It was released on the RCA Victor label (LSP-4828) on March 1, 1973. It consists of patriotic poems written by actor John Mitchum, the brother of Robert Mitchum.

Side A

1. “Why I Love Her” [2:56]
2. “The Hyphen” [2:29]
3. “Mis Raices Estan Aqui (My Roots Are Buried Here)” [2:41]
4. “The People” [3:46]
5. “An American Boy Grows Up” [4:29] 

Side B

1. “Face the Flag” [3:52]
2. “The Good Things” [2:40]
3. “The Pledge of Allegiance” [4:19]
4. “Why Are You Marching, Son?” [3:58]
5. “Taps” [3:01]