Land that I love

By Catherine Amos

Published: July 3, 2008

I wasn’t going to write a column this week, but all it took was a little inspiration.

Being a holiday week, things get crazy around here when people are gone and we have early deadlines. And unfortunately for my mom — and my two or three other loyal readers — when it gets hectic or I have nothing to write, the column gets cut. This week, both were true.

So, I was going to skip a week. That is, until I began working on today’s story about Culpeper’s Fourth of July events. I started reading the lyrics of patriotic songs to gain some inspiration and was struck by one song in particular: “God Bless America.”

We’ve heard it a thousand times. But when I read its simple words again, I remembered a particularly poignant performance of the tune. It was Sept. 21, 2001.

Just 10 days after the infamous attacks we now refer to as 9/11, the United States was in mourning. In one of many acts of unity, celebrities organized a telethon, with everyone from Brad Pitt to George Clooney answering phones. The Dixie Chicks, Dave Matthews and many others performed to raise money for the victims’ families.

Most sang slowed-down versions of hit songs, from “Livin’ on a Prayer” to “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” It was emotional, but it wasn’t until Celine Dion performed “God Bless America” that I was truly moved.

Not only was her performance beautiful — come on, it’s Celine — but the fact that a Canadian sang that song was absolutely touching. “God bless America, my home sweet home,” she sang with depth and grace. Even today, her version chokes me up. It gave me hope that we as a nation would survive.

It was through gestures like those that I realized how much support America had and how proud I was to live here. It also made me realize how deeply the tragedy had affected me.

I did not know anyone remotely connected to the attacks, but was devastated to my core. I was 16 and my world was shattered; I never thought anything like that could happen. Like most people, it terrified me.

I don’t mean to get overly sentimental, but even in today’s poor economy, I’m still grateful to live in a place where I can be free. Others may resent us for it, but that is what makes us great.

When I lived in Spain, there was a very real stigma against Americans, as there is in many countries. And as much as I genuinely loved living abroad, I could not wait to return to the land that I love, my home, sweet home.

Catherine Amos won’t apologize for being patriotic, even though someone (you know who you are) made fun of her for this column. She can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 138 or .