About Patriotism

What I came to know about patriotism started when my parents told my sister and me about Sputnik and their worries about the Russians. Later the Cuban missile crisis spurred our talk of building backyard bomb shelters. The patriotism of boomers was forged by threats, tragedies and triumphs. We shared the Cold War threats and the tragic deaths of John, Martin and Bobby. We triumphed with moon walks, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the ascent of the first African American to the presidency. We mourned space shuttles Challenger and Columbia. We grieved over Oklahoma City and 9/11. We acknowledged tragedy in Tucson, Ariz., and later celebrated the recovery of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. … Back to Article