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Think back to your school days. How many of the programs you participated in do you remember? Programs in school come and go. I must admit that I have no recollection of most of them, but one program in particular is indelibly etched into my memory.
I guess I was probably in fifth or sixth grade. The songs we learned were stirring and patriotic. They also taught us about the era in which they gained popularity.
The songs followed the wars. Since it was the early 1950s the last war we learned about was WWII – we were the baby boomers, who were born after the war.
What I loved best about elementary school was how easy it was to cross reference the subjects. The music teacher thought nothing of teaching history while she taught us to sing. The history teacher thought nothing of having us create time lines and graphs which of course belong in the domain of math concepts. We wrote across the curriculum.
This is Memorial Day – a time for a dose of patriotism and for remembering the men and women who served in our armed forces to protect our freedoms.
In church we sing the patriotic hymns that are so familiar to us. Each time I sing the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” America the Beautiful,” and “My Country Tis of Thee,” I get chills and goosebumps.
I worked to instill a sense of patriotism in my students. We did the “Pledge of Allegiance” every day. I let a student hold the flag and start the pledge. That was a big deal to the students. That duty made them feel special. I hope that it taught them a little bit about patriotism as well.
We sang “My Country Tis of Thee” since it was much easier to sing than the national anthem. I figured there was time for them to learn that stirring melody later.
In a reference book that I have by Ace Collins, a music historian, he presents the history behind many of the familiar tunes.
One of my favorite songs is “He’s Got the Whole World in his Hands.” The ’50s and ’60s were turbulent and filled with rebellion. Everything was going wrong. People were scared.
The Iron Curtain was going up in Europe. Just when we thought that the war to end all war had been fought and won the Korean War broke out. Russia was building nuclear weapons capable of demolishing all of the free world. An arms race broke out as the super powers volleyed for power.
In school they took us out in the hall to practice our technique of “duck and cover.” These minutes went by so slowly when we were crouching down as a means of saving our lives.
I know that teens often feel helpless but I want to tell you that their voice can be heard. It was a 14-year-old boy from England who turned a an African American spiritual song into an almost instant hit that serves as the title for this article.
When Laurie London received a copy of “He’s Got the Whole World in his Hands” it was not like it is today.
The world was turning from God, yet “He’s Got the Whole World in his Hands” rose to become the song of the day. It was popularized and sung throughout the world.
This ushered in a whole new genre of music. Praise and worship songs were born. The church attracted both young people and the young at heart.
“America needed a musical message that God was still in control,” said Ace Collins.
Shortly after Sept. 11, 2001 the song saw a resurgence. The nation once again needed a reminder that God was with us. You know I think we are once again at a point that we need a reminder. Our freedoms are being trampled on. Just maybe it is time for us to fight back. We have certain unalienable rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
As we celebrate this Memorial Day we are in a time of turmoil. Terrorists have struck and continue to cause disruption in our land and around the world. Our government seems powerless to stop things. Embassy workers have paid the ultimate price. Our military is embroiled in battles. We are a nation looking for something.
It is time to remember the words of the song. “He’s Got the Whole World in his Hands.” We are not in this alone, folks. The one who made the earth and all that is in it is in control. Like our minister likes to say, “We win. I know we win because I’ve read the end of the book.”
Memorial Day is a rich tradition. I grew up going to Memorial Day services and participating in them. My children grew up doing that, too. Now it is the grandchildren. They have participated in the band and through scouting programs. We teach our children to remember.
If the celebration of Memorial Day is to continue we have to get our young people involved. It works the same with our faith. If we want the institution of religion to continue we have to bring our children and grandchildren to church. I know that I learned by example. Now it is my turn to step up and be the example.
I never served in the military, but my husband did. He was very proud of his service to his country. Now each year he is honored with the placing of an American flag on his grave. As a Boy Scout our grandson got to place the flag on grandpa’s grave one year. He was honored to do it.
As we salute our flag and pay homage to the men and women who so willing served their country we are carrying on the tradition. Patriotism is alive and well. God bless America! Remember: “He’s Got the Whole World in his Hands.”
Ann Swanson writes from her home in Russell, Pa. Contact her at hickoryheights1@verizon.net.