June 19, 2018
Happy Tuesday! Sorry I missed yesterday’s regularly scheduled post here. But I hope you took the opportunity to visit our Facebook page to catch a glimpse of new items that recalled some historic people and events. Over the past few weeks we have revisited moments in history featuring the likes of Winston Churchill, George Washington, Sally Ride, Abraham Lincoln, Dwight Eisenhower, and more. Mistletoe Enterprises and Victory & Valor are on a mission to educate others by spreading cheer and telling stories of heroes from all walks of life. By studying history, we learn from the past. And by finding the best moments in history, we hope to inspire a better future. Sunday I was reminded of how much of a history buff I am. And I suppose I was reminded why I came to be a history buff, too. My kids came to help me celebrate Father’s Day. And my oldest brought my grandson: an “exploring” toddler who is curious about anything that captures his attention. Note, I use quotation marks around the word “exploring” as an indication that sometimes young, toddling “explorers” – not knowing better - can sometimes transition to “conquerors”, as any experienced parent might attest. Anyway, on my coffee table was a stack of my working notes, chock-full of historical tidbits and references, and I didn’t want him to “explore” them, lest he “conquer” them. And I immediately recognize that I am thinking of my grandson in terms of the Vikings, Columbus, Ponce de Leon, and Amerigo Vespucci! This is the mind of a history buff at rest on a Sunday afternoon. So, I collected the stack of notes and put them in a drawer out of reach of the little Conquistador. Noticing this, my oldest asked me if they were important papers. I started to explain that they were my working notes, but I redirected and took a different angle. I asked, “Do you know what happened on this day in 1885?” Noting the reply of a shrug, I jokingly said “If you visited the mistletoetom Facebook page you’d know!” (FYI The Statue of Liberty arrived in New York Harbor on June 17, 1885. It was a gift from France as a symbol of freedom.) Lesson of that story is I can’t escape my interest in history. And sharing the best of those historical glimpses is at the core of our mission to educate others. Naturally, I also recalled my Dad for Father’s Day. In one of my first blogs here I shared the fact that my Dad passed away when I was only three years old. I have no independent memories of him, and what I do know about him is from what family and friends have shared about him. Over the years, I learned these things about my Dad: He built a house. He bowled. He was a Scout leader. He had an infectious laugh. He didn’t mind if the lake water was cold; he jumped in anyway. He designed things as a draftsman. He was an artist. He knew mathematics. He worked on our parish festival committee. He was a World War II combat veteran who earned the Bronze Star in Europe. He was gone way too soon. My Dad was a husband. He was a father. He is remembered, loved and missed. Indeed, he was gone way too soon. And, for this reason, throughout my life, I had to rely on other people’s historical accounts of who my Dad was and what he was like. All these little glimpses combined to give me a sense of his life and personality. Mostly, I get a feeling for his character because the historians who relayed the stories knew him well. How does this relate to the work of Mistletoe Enterprises and Victory & Valor? We try to give you the best glimpses of history: the leadership of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln; the courage of explorers like Buzz Aldrin and Sally Ride; and words of determination like those of Churchill in the face of war. There is a movie from 1984 called, “Starman” with Jeff Bridges. He portrays an alien visiting Earth. At a key point in the movie he says of humanity: “You are at your best when things seem worst.” Science fiction or not: it’s got a lot of truth. Some of the best things we have ever done throughout history have been in response to some of the worst events that have befallen us: Franklin Roosevelt gave courage to the nation through fireside chats and reminded the country in the grip of economic collapse that the “only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Martin Luther King gave lasting breadth to four words, confronting centuries of injustice with the hopeful statement: “I have a Dream!” In the aftermath of 9-11, President Bush addressed Congress and described the strength with which Americans united to help each other and heal together. Churchill rallied his nation and allies in the most perilous moments of war, with the most inspiring determination that, “This is their finest hour!” And the Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to America in 1885. It remains as the most iconic symbol of freedom that overcame tyranny and oppression. Life is short. History teaches us so. And the brief glimpses of history that we share are lessons to all of us to make every hour our finest hour. Mistletoe Enterprises and Victory & Valor will continue to spread cheer and tell the stories of history & heroes. We hope you find it uplifting and inspiring. See you back here tomorrow!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorTom Davis is the owner of Mistletoe Enterprises LLC. He also publishes and distributes the Victory & Valor Flyer, it tells the stories of heroes from all walks of life. Archives
December 2018
Categories |