A GREAT-GRANDFATHER’S MEMORIES
A Great-grandson listens
Submitted by: Joseph Grisafi Jr
One day in the not to distant future, an elderly gentleman named John was sitting at home in his favorite chair appearing a little distraught. He had felt this way for years especially around this time of year. He tried to understand why God let him live so long. Sometimes he wishes he had not reached this age for it broke his heart to see what has happened to his country and the world around him. John has seen the world change many times during his lifetime, some good, and some bad.
On this day John’s granddaughter and his young great-grandson, Thomas, who finally reached the age of reason came for a week visit. While John was sitting in his chair, Thomas looked at him with great concern. Thomas walked over to his great-grandfather and asked him why he looked so grim.
Although weak, John always loved to put Thomas on his knee and hold him. So John reached down and picked up his great-grandson. John explained to Thomas that today used to be a very important day years and years ago. Election Day, as it was called, was a day in which citizens of this once great nation would go to the election polls and cast their ballot for the President of the United States. A day where citizens would decide who was best suited to lead the nation - someone that would protect and defend the Constitution against foreign and domestic invasion.
Thomas was a little puzzled so he asked his great-grandfather to explain what he meant by The Constitution. You see, The Constitution is no longer taught in schools. John knew this because his granddaughter has little knowledge of the Constitution so she is not able to teach Thomas about something she herself has little knowledge.
John explained that the Constitution was the law of the land at one time, a time that lasted almost 300 years. He went on to explain that over time bad people from other countries wanted to disrupt our way of life. Furthermore, the only way they could do it was to infiltrate our way of life and slowly but surely take it over. These bad people did nothing but lie for their own benefit. They were traitors to America and only had their own interest at heart and not of the United States. Sadly, the more they lied the more citizens would appear to believe them. Although Thomas was still too young to understand, John instilled a few seeds in Thomas’ mind by trying to explain something that no longer exists, the free Market and Capitalism. John quoted a great President from the 1980’s, Ronald Reagan; Reagan said, “Government is not the solution to our problems. Government IS the problem.” John also quoted one of our Founders, Thomas Jefferson; Jefferson said, “I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.”
John further explained that a long time ago our Founding Fathers, patriots like George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Paul Revere, and many others were able to envision a country that would be governed by the people for the people. Our Founders believed that the people were able to govern themselves without the need of someone telling them what to do and how to do it. Most people have the intestinal fortitude to do for themselves without a dictator. John told Thomas that he was named after one of our great founders, John Adams. Although Thomas was not named after Thomas Jefferson, John told Thomas that he always believed in his heart that he was. Whenever John held Thomas, he would see in his mind a picture of Thomas Jefferson. John always held dear in his heart the founders of his country and the principles that helped formed a once great nation. John was sure to tell Thomas that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were dear friends and even died on the same day, July 4th, 1826.
John explained to Thomas our founding documents and how our Founders mutually pledged to each other their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. Schools no longer teach The Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, and Constitution. Thomas was eager to learn more from his great-grandfather so he sat on John’s knee in deep thought listening energetically. John explained that the Bill of Rights was written to protect American citizens from a tyrannical government.
So now, the citizens of a once great nation no longer go to the polls to vote. There are no more conventions, speeches, and lies about how they will take care of you. No one runs for the highest office in the land. All they need do is sit back and listen to the one person that tells its citizens what to do and how to live. Voting became a thing of the past. John, when much younger, remembers seeing signs reading, “VOTE INCUMBENTS OUT! Apparently no one ever paid attention to them. He always believed that at some point in the future government would stop the process of voting.
John continued to tell Thomas about the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. In school, Thomas does not recite the Pledge of Allegiance or has ever sung the National Anthem. This stopped many years ago in schools throughout the nation. Thomas does not even know the words. After some prompting both John and Thomas recited the Pledge and softly sung the National Anthem. Thomas later asked his great-grandfather why he felt a chill and got goose bumps after they finished reciting them. John believed he knew why and tears filled his eyes. If he could hold Thomas any closer he would.
John could see that Thomas was eager to continue his history lesson so John went through the calendar and mentioned some dates that are no longer observed. In February John mentioned two birthdays, President’s Lincoln and Washington. April had a day that many stopped observing a long time ago, Army Day. In May, there are a number of days that used to be on the calendar, V-E Day, Armed Forces Day, and Memorial Day. Thomas listened so attentively that his mouth was wide open as John explained the meaning of each. During June, 2 days stood out above all, D-Day and Flag Day. John explained how brave men and women during WWII gave their all for their country. Yes, WWII is not taught in schools any more. It is deemed that war should not be taught no matter the good or the bad. Than we come to July 4th, a day which has no meaning any more. After all, why observe it now that The Constitution is extinct and the Declaration of Independence has been repealed. John, however, fighting back tears tried his best to let Thomas know how precious this day used to be. In August there is Air Force Day and Coast Guard Day.
John continued on, in September with Patriot Day and Citizenship Day. John told Thomas that 911 was the first time ever that war came to our shores. Thomas knew nothing about it. Again, fighting back tears and a quivering chin John told Thomas how 911 affected the country. Oh, some stuff happened but it never ended. It just continued until everyone became weary. In November we used to celebrate Marine Corps Day and Veterans Day. John told Thomas how we used to thank our Veteran’s for the sacrifice they gave for their country. December 7th, 1941, a day which will live in infamy, is no longer remembered.
John took advantage of the attention of Thomas who appeared to be listening passionately and wanting to learn more about the country that his great-grandfather grew up in. John told Thomas that if he ever found two books one called 1984 by George Orwell and the other called The Late Great U.S.A. by Dr. Jerome Corsi to keep them and read them repeatedly. Both books would give him an insight into why the United States of America took a bad turn and who was behind its demise. John mentioned this to Thomas because these books have since been banned along with the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence among other great pieces of literature.
The history lesson went on for hours. John could see that Thomas was getting a little fidgety. Above all, John wanted Thomas to remember that if he ever found the Constitution, The Bill of Rights, The Declaration of Independence, 1984 or The Late Great U.S.A. to hold onto them and keep them close. In secret, John told Thomas that when he dies Thomas would find a copy in the urn.
The history lesson was over for now. The week went by fast and Thomas and his mother only had one more day to spend with John. Sadly, on that day John passed away. Before he did, he realized why God let him live a long life.
Maybe, just maybe, there was a reason for John to teach Thomas this history lesson. Maybe, just maybe, Thomas will become the next Thomas Jefferson. Maybe, just maybe, there was a reason God wanted John to be a great-grandfather and to live a long life.
When Thomas turned 18 he remembered what his great-grandfather told him in secret. He looked in the urn.
Thank you, and God Bless America
Joe Grisafi
Is not a professional writer
Joe is a gunsmith and firearms instructor.
Memberships include:
The NRA (life member) and a certified instructor in five disciplines.
The Texas State Rifle Association
Gun Owners of America
The Second Amendment Foundation
American Gunsmithing Association
The Constitution Party (Ex-republican – never a democrat)
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps.
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