Our Rich Heritage

by Gene Shelburne

It seems that Phoenix’s neighboring city of Tempe has proven it can throw a New Year’s Eve street party far superior to anything Phoenix can put together. But regardless of who’s sponsoring the bash, my wife and I are always glad to surrender our space at such celebrations to those who might enjoy them more. It’s a rare thing if New Year’s Eve finds us venturing very far from the comfort of our own easy chairs.

We’ve never found it particularly exciting to watch on television as a crystal ball descends in New York’s Times Square. We did, however, find something on TV that made us lay aside the books we had planned to read that night. The U.S. Marine Band was performing in the White House. We invited ourselves in and enjoyed the company of the President and Mrs. Bush.

In 1798, the U.S. Congress and President John Adams established that band. After the capital was moved to Washington it made its “President’s Palace” (Abigail Adams’ terminology) debut on New Year’s Day, 1801. Our third president, Thomas Jefferson, named it “The President’s Own.” It traveled to Gettysburg with our 16th president.

The Marine Band is part of our proud American heritage. And its White House musical selections on New Year’s Eve reflected our nation’s rich Christian heritage as well. Here are words from some of their music:

“America! America! God shed

      his grace on thee . . .”

“In the beauty of the lilies

                Christ was born across    

          the sea,

With a glory in His bosom

      that transfigures you and   

           me . . .

Glory, glory, hallelujah!

His truth is marching on!”

“Eternal Father, strong to

      save . . .”

“God bless America . . .”

In my opinion, it’s comfort food for the soul to know that these stately Christian hymns are embedded in our nation’s heritage, and that we can expect to hear them performed for our President and his guests in the White House.