It's Wednesday, and time for another weekly blog post with our "Jewelry Quote of the Week." But first I want to reflect on the fact that is 9-11. Those of us over 10 years old remember where we were when our country was threatened and thousands of innocent lives were lost. I was actually on vacation in Key West, FL. I remember waking up, getting breakfast, and heading back to my resort room. I turned on the TV and every single station had odd news updates. It took awhile for my tired self to realize what on earth was happening. I called my Mom in the other resort room, and heard her sobbing. She explained what had happened and I was stunned. We met up after that and silently wandered around aimlessly. We were supposed to have a day of fun, but felt a mourning feeling that wouldn't allow us to be happy or do anything exciting. It felt selfish with all that was happening. We finally decided to rent a boat and spend the day on the ocean, just hoping to enjoy the peaceful calmness of being at sea. It was the right choice. We floated around the ocean and saw many types of sea life. A large pod of dolphins came up to us and played around our idled boat. That, too, was a moment I will never forget. Those dolphins comforted us in ways that cannot be explained.
While none of us were directly affected by that horrible day (lucky enough to not have had any loved ones injured or lost), my family and I knew we would never forget where we were, or how frightened and shocked we were.
Instead of our "Jewelry Quote of the Week," I leave you with the quote all Americans need to remember. Too many of us do not have even the first stanza memorized, let alone realize there are more stanzas than just the first.
While none of us were directly affected by that horrible day (lucky enough to not have had any loved ones injured or lost), my family and I knew we would never forget where we were, or how frightened and shocked we were.
Instead of our "Jewelry Quote of the Week," I leave you with the quote all Americans need to remember. Too many of us do not have even the first stanza memorized, let alone realize there are more stanzas than just the first.
Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still
there. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream: 'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion, A home and a country should leave us no more! Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a
nation. Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall
wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!