ThinMint

For those who may miss out on fireworks in person, here is a video showcasing one of the most fabulous fireworks displays I have ever seen! This is from the August 2019 Nagaoka festival in Japan set, “against the backdrop of the Shinano River, the longest in Japan.” PS – I highly suggest you install AdBlocker if you haven’t done so already. You really want to see this without the ads

Here is a video to play for when you want some long playing background classic patriotic songs. It tells a beauty story using sight and sound visuals of what America is. Enjoy this beautiful calming imagery and scenery of America. https://youtu.be/LCdGaPCalwA

"After being canceled for the NFL to perform the Anthem at the season opening game because of my vaccination status, I decided to sing anyways. Except this time not for the theatrics of a football game.. this time I sang for America. To remind her who she is… the land of the free and the home of the brave. This is dedicated to anyone that has taken a stand for freedom. I stand with you." - Victory Boyd

The Star Spangled Banner written by Francis Scott Key. Some favorite renditions in the comments. Please feel free to share yours 😊

There’s a reason we love our country. We’re reliable, trustworthy, compassionate, generous, proud, brave, resilient, kindhearted, intelligent, helpful, fun-loving, dedicated, honest. We are the heartbeat of this idea called America.

We innovate, we save, we protect. We cherish, we comfort, we celebrate. We give generously, we live wholly and we love deeply. Our patriotism soars hearing the sweet words, “… home of the brave.” Let’s rally. Let’s gather. Let’s unite. This is our country. And it’s worth safeguarding.

Written by Katharine Lee Bates as a poem in 1893 O beautiful for spacious skies For amber waves of grain For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! O beautiful for pilgrim feet Whose stern impassioned stress A thoroughfare of freedom beat Across the wilderness! America! America! God mend thine every flaw Confirm thy soul in self-control Thy liberty in law! O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife Who more than self their country loved And mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine Till all success be nobleness And every gain divine! O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! O beautiful for halcyon skies For amber waves of grain For purple mountain majesties Above the enameled plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till souls wax fair as earth and air And music-hearted sea! O beautiful for pilgrims feet Whose stem impassioned stress A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till paths be wrought through Wilds of thought By pilgrim foot and knee! O beautiful for glory-tale Of liberating strife When once and twice For man's avail Men lavished precious life! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till selfish gain no longer stain The banner of the free! O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee Till nobler men keep once again

We live on one of the most beautiful continents in the world. The assorted bounty of plants and animals is magnificent. The mixture of landscapes are awe-inspiring, the views are breathtaking. The culture, the food, the music, and the dialect of each state is quite diverse, yet we’re still connected to our fellow countrymen. From iconic images of red barns to lighthouses; from flashing neon lights to uncharted wildernesses; and from beaches to mountains with prairies and deserts in between –our land has been blessed.