It’s Still a Grand Old Flag

I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America,
and to the republic for which it stands,
one nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty
and justice for all.

Today is Flag Day in the United States. It commemorates the adoption of the Stars and Stripes by a resolution of the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777.

Today also commemorates the U.S. Army birthday of June 14, 1775.

President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed June 14 as Flag Day on June 1916 before dragging us into World War I.

Too soon?

I’m not ashamed to say that I love the Grand Old Flag. I’ve pledged my allegiance on more occasions than I can count.

I’m a big fan of Yankee Doodle, being born myself on the third of July. The fireworks are always a nice addition to the festivities.

Do I think that our flag, and our country are perfect?

Hardly.

I just think we’re still the best. Your nationality may vary.

We’ve got a lot of problems. I think we still have the resolve to fix them. At least I hope we do.

Today, I’m waving the flag and flying it from my house. But no, in spite of what memes you may have seen, that doesn’t tell you how I’m voting.

It might tell you how I’m not voting, but that’s another post. For another writer.


IN OTHER NEWS

Experts predict inflation election trouble for Biden: ‘Too late’ to fix
FOX News
Inflation currently sits at 3.3% year over year, according to Department of Labor statistics. Although down from a near-record high of 9.1% in June 2022, it’s still higher than at any point in the last decade prior to Biden taking office.

As Russian Warships Threaten Florida Coast, Biden Responds Decisively To Ensure Safety Of All Pride Murals
The Babylon Bee
According to National Security sources, the Russian task force which includes a nuclear submarine and a frigate could pose a threat to US sovereignty, but more importantly, they might splash water – or even leave tire tracks – on gay pride murals. The National Guard and the Coast Guard have been ordered to dispatch troops to keep a 24-hour watch on all Pride murals within a 250-mile radius of the Russian ships.

 

Available on Amazon.

Characters

I love playing good comedy with a heart, comedy which touches the audience.

Character actor Mary Wickes, was born on this day in 1910. (died 1995).

If you’ve watched any “older” movies at all, you’ve likely seen Mary Wickes. In fact her biography is titled Mary Wickes: I Know I’ve Seen That Face Before (available on Amazon.) It was written several years after her passing.

Whether she was Sister Mary Lazarus in Sister Act (and Sister Act 2), or the busybody housekeeper Emma Allen in White Christmas, or the voice of Laverne the Gargoyle in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mary Wickes excelled at being the character actor that everyone loved.

Wickes understood that the best parts are not always given to the lead. She excelled at being the witty sidekick with the snappy remarks.

It’s probably something most younger actors don’t consider. But there can be so much depth and richness in playing the character role.

I was never the leading man type myself. I wanted to be Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream in college but was thankful to be cast as Peter Quince once I saw the costume, or lack thereof, for Oberon.

True story. Of the many paths I considered when leaving college, being a professional actor was not one of them. I didn’t consider myself pretty enough.

Well, that and the fact that my indecisiveness was already pulling me in multiple different directions.

These days, as has been the case for more than ten years now since I branched out in to professional acting, I’m content to play the character parts. I’m well aware that I’ve aged out of several of my bucket list roles.

And that’s okay.

Sure, I still get an occasional lead role. Wearing the red suit helps a great deal with that.

I’m just more likely to be cast as a judge or the cantankerous step-dad or uncle.

As long as I get the callback, right?

Now that I qualify for the senior discount (and yes, it’s been a while), I’m content to find those character roles, those supporting parts. And sometimes I’m on the other side doing the directing.

I sat out on the back deck (or as I refer to it the veranda) the other day with an adult entertainment beverage and a stack of scripts.

It was grand.

As the next theater season heats up, I find I’ll be more active than I have since the pre-pandemic days. And I’m liking that. No, I’m not listing the shows yet. You know I will when I can.

In the meantime?

Casting directors, my line is open.

IN OTHER NEWS

Rescuing Hostages Is Good, Actually
The Editors at National Review
In a morally sane world, the rescue of civilian hostages should have been widely celebrated as a heroic operation. Sadly, when it comes to the world’s attitude toward Jews, we are not living in such a world.

Six suspected terrorists with ISIS ties arrested in sting operation in New York, Los Angeles and Philadelphia: sources
New York Post
The targets had all crossed the southern border and initial vetting by federal authorities didn’t turn up any negative information tied to their names, Fox News reported.

Biden Issues Executive Order Limiting Border Crossings To Just 5,000 ISIS Terrorists Per Day
The Babylon Bee
The administration stated that this move was intended to make it more difficult for ISIS extremists to plan any terrorist attacks within the United States due to only allowing 5,000 terrorists to enter the country illegally every day.

 

Available on Amazon.