Remember the Pioneers!

Click on the title to watch the story of the Saints trek!!!

Here we are learning what it was like to drive a handcart.

Sam and Jody went to visit Lynda on her mission in Nauvoo. Here she is waiting to be our tour guide on the wagon ride around Nauvoo.

Here is the pageant. This is when they raised the Nauvoo temple. It was a sight to see them put it together.

Singing in the pageant. The many in the middle is portraying Joseph Smith. The people who are in the pageant commit for two weeks to be in Nauvoo.

What is Freedom to you?

Here is a fun tidbit about our national anthem. As we all know the national anthem,"The Star-Spangled Banner" was written by Frances Scott Key. It was written as a poem to commemorate a specific battle in the War of 1812. Frances Scott Key titled his poem, "The Defense of Fort M' Henry."

It was published in two Boston newspapers who published them anonymously. The news papers said that it fit the tune to"Anacreon in Heaven." After a while it appeared in many newspapers and then was given the title we now know as " The Star-Spangled Banner."

In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson ordered it played at military events and in 1918 it began playing as a tradition at baseball games. During WWl the baseball league considered canceling the World Series but when the League officials found that the military were looking forward to the outcome of the game, the game went on! During the first game at the 7th inning stretch the band played "The Star-Spangled Banner" in which all the people in the stadium, as a patriotic gesture stood, took off their hats, and sang!

Although "The Star-Spangled Banner" has been accepted as the national anthem since then, it wasn't until 1931 through an act of congress signed by President Hoover that made it official. Take some time this week to sing or just listen to the words of this great song!

It that time again where we show our patriotism to our country by celebrating not only our freedom from past oppression but our freedom for the future! I once heard a song say, "Freedom isn't free!" How true this is!!!! We are blessed to have brave, honorable people fight for a cause which will allow us to worship and live great!!!! Thank you to all who have served in the military. It is not easy and you are so very much appreciated!!!!!!!!! After talking to a local tribal sheik about reopening a bridge, Soldiers from Company A, 2nd ‘Lancer’ Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment and Headquarters Company, 2nd “Stallion” Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment walk past a bridge during a patrol. Pictured in the foreground are Co. A infantrymen, Irving, Texas native Cpl. Allen Doggett (center) and Spc. Juan Ramirez (right) of Shafter, Calif.
Pic: SSG Jon Cupp

Just an important side note. While these great people are sacrificing (some their all), we too must remember that we need to do our part here at home. This means working as families to keep our country at its best!!!!