National Anthem

With excellent flying conditions all the way from Amsterdam to New York, flight number 641 landed with ease at Kennedy International Airport at 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 1974. As the Boeing 747 taxied down the runway, the most obvious thing to me was the flag of the United States waving over the terminal in the afternoon breeze. That moment was awe-inspiring, and it brought a tear to my eye and a lump to my throat. After spending just over two weeks in Europe and looking at other flags flying in the breeze, that was a welcomed sight; for, to me, there are few things more beautiful than Old Glory waving in the breeze.

Their hearts were in the right place even though Rachael Ball, left, 4, and Hayden Cracraft, 5, top photo, had the wrong hand over their hearts while the national anthem was being sung at the Red, White and Bike event at St. Agatha Academy Thursday evening. Children decorated their bikes for the Fourth of July, wrote letters to Clark County servicemen and paraded downtown to mail the letters. Local attorney Gerald Martin performed the National Anthem. After decorating her bike for the Fourth of July, two-year-old Farris Grau decorated herself with a red, white and blue lei shortly before parading to the Clark County Courthouse.

Dear Editor, I certainly hope the Boyle County High School staff learned something from graduation night. Many could not stand the heat and had to leave, some had medical problems. They took way too long for everything, took 30 minutes just to seat students; that could have been done in five. People had to arrive at least an hour early, even to get a seat in the top rows; 110 degrees up there. I hope they learned from this and will correct the problem next year. On another very serious note, I noted nothing was mentioned about the importance of the weekend on which this was happening — Memorial Day weekend.

Dear Editor, All citizens who love their country and the flag for which it stands will recognize that although it is not a holiday, Sept. 14 is nevertheless, a special day. On Sept. 14, 1814, Francis Scott Key, under unusual circumstances, composed the immortal lines of a poem that became our national anthem. In June 1813, during the course of the War of 1812-14, Major George Armistead was sent to Baltimore to take command of Fort McHenry, the fort guarding the harbor of Baltimore.

The annual Fourth of July show at Lykins Park Friday evening featured a double fireworks finale, above, which brought applause from the large crowd. At left, Payton Losh, 6, had a blast dancing with her father, Jamie Losh. World War II veteran Marvin Eugene Baker, at right, salutes while Hannah Rector sings the National Anthem to open the evening-long event. Veterans and first responders who attended were honored. Clark County's and America's Junior Miss Michelle Rodgers, right, sings "God Bless America" before counting down to begin the fireworks show at the Fourth of July Celebration Friday evening.

Dear Editor, Congratulations to our Boyle County football team for Friday's impressive win over Johnson Central. As always after a first game, they have a few things that need working on. But I have no doubt the mistakes will soon get corrected. However, I was very disappointed in many other events surrounding the game. It started with no color guard being displayed on the field during the playing of our national anthem. It continued with the lack of fireworks ? both during the national anthem and after each Boyle score.

Memorial Day observances scheduled in this area will be Saturday and Monday. Camp Nelson George Webb, who manages 26 national cemeteries in nine states, will be the guest speaker at Camp Nelson National Cemetery Memorial Day ceremonies at 11 a.m. Monday. Webb is director of the National Cemetery Administration's Memorial Service Network IV. The ceremony will include music, poetry, prayer, the national anthem, retiring of colors, placing of a wreath and taps.

Winchester's Fourth of July celebration this year will include a double grand finale fireworks show, a performance by America's Junior Miss Michelle Rodgers and a special ceremony to honor local veterans. And for people who can't get enough of the fun and the fireworks, there will be plenty of time to attend other celebrations, thanks to a new tradition. The festivities actually will be held July 3 rather than July 4 so as to avoid competing with bigger fireworks shows throughout the region.

For Kathy Hall, the specter of a war fought 200 years ago stays close to her heart. Her ancestor, Capt. James C. Price, lost his life while commanding a group of Jessamine County soldiers at the Battle of Frenchtown, the deadliest conflict of the War of 1812. “My mother was a Price,” Hall said. “James Price was my grandfather times four. His militia group was known as the Jessamine Blues. Their uniforms were distinctive, blue with light facings.” Hall said the Jessamine Blues were sent up to Michigan, near the Raisin River, where they fought the British and Indians.

A central Kentucky organization that raises funds for children around Kentucky who are suffering from cancer will hold a fundraising event in conjunction with Wednesday's Transylvania-Centre men's game. Collin's Classic for Children with Cancer will hold "Divided on the Court, United for Collin," before and during the 7 p.m. game at Alumni Gymnasium. The organization will be selling "C vs. T" cups, holding a raffle for items donated by local businesses and taking donations. Collin's Classic president Julia Poynter will give a short speech about the organization and announce raffle winners at halftime.

For Kathy Hall, the specter of a war fought 200 years ago stays close to her heart. Her ancestor, Capt. James C. Price, lost his life while commanding a group of Jessamine County soldiers at the Battle of Frenchtown, the deadliest conflict of the War of 1812. “My mother was a Price,” Hall said. “James Price was my grandfather times four. His militia group was known as the Jessamine Blues. Their uniforms were distinctive, blue with light facings.” Hall said the Jessamine Blues were sent up to Michigan, near the Raisin River, where they fought the British and Indians.

It has been almost 40 years since Dave Wottle pulled off a remarkable finish to come from last and win the 800-meter gold medal at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany, that were disrupted by the terrorist attack on Israel's male athletes. Wottle was last early in the race before somehow overcoming a huge deficit to win at the wire in a race few who saw it will ever forget. “I do know that it has been 40 years. It seems like a long time, but it doesn't seem like a long time. I see the Olympic race through the camera eyes more than my eyes any more because it has been so long that I really forget what I was seeing and feeling during the race.

There are times when surprise explodes with such force that it blows you off your feet. Our core values, customs and principles are slowly diluting, and the diminishment of our freedom of expression and worship of God continues to be attacked by those who, however inadvertently, seem to exercise some pseudo-protective instinct for those who cry “foul” when confronted with American principles.  Why is that happening? The Campus Crusade for Christ International, has now proffered the latest stunning surrender to political correctness.

Dear Editor, I certainly hope the Boyle County High School staff learned something from graduation night. Many could not stand the heat and had to leave, some had medical problems. They took way too long for everything, took 30 minutes just to seat students; that could have been done in five. People had to arrive at least an hour early, even to get a seat in the top rows; 110 degrees up there. I hope they learned from this and will correct the problem next year. On another very serious note, I noted nothing was mentioned about the importance of the weekend on which this was happening — Memorial Day weekend.

With excellent flying conditions all the way from Amsterdam to New York, flight number 641 landed with ease at Kennedy International Airport at 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 1974. As the Boeing 747 taxied down the runway, the most obvious thing to me was the flag of the United States waving over the terminal in the afternoon breeze. That moment was awe-inspiring, and it brought a tear to my eye and a lump to my throat. After spending just over two weeks in Europe and looking at other flags flying in the breeze, that was a welcomed sight; for, to me, there are few things more beautiful than Old Glory waving in the breeze.

Dear Editor, Congratulations to our Boyle County football team for Friday's impressive win over Johnson Central. As always after a first game, they have a few things that need working on. But I have no doubt the mistakes will soon get corrected. However, I was very disappointed in many other events surrounding the game. It started with no color guard being displayed on the field during the playing of our national anthem. It continued with the lack of fireworks ? both during the national anthem and after each Boyle score.

The third national Gathering of Low Dutch Cousins will convene Sept. 24-28 in Harrodsburg, with many families of Holland ancestry coming from other states to participate. Weekend plans include a special public program at Old Fort Harrod, "The Low Dutch Station and Fort Harrod in 1785," and an all-day visit to Shakertown with a special presentation by Barbara Whiteside of Clarksville, Ind., on "Low Dutch Shakers. "The Friday evening dinner speaker will be Joan England Murray of Palatine, IL, author of "The Bantas of Pleasant Hill.

The annual Fourth of July show at Lykins Park Friday evening featured a double fireworks finale, above, which brought applause from the large crowd. At left, Payton Losh, 6, had a blast dancing with her father, Jamie Losh. World War II veteran Marvin Eugene Baker, at right, salutes while Hannah Rector sings the National Anthem to open the evening-long event. Veterans and first responders who attended were honored. Clark County's and America's Junior Miss Michelle Rodgers, right, sings "God Bless America" before counting down to begin the fireworks show at the Fourth of July Celebration Friday evening.