‘Any bonds today?’

This writer was a boy growing up in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. during World War II.

During those critical war years, 1941-1945, citizens young and old were very much involved in the war effort, and mom and dad encouraged my sister and me to save a portion of our weekly allowance to purchase war bonds which we did.

It was the patriotic thing to do. 

Day after day we heard the war bond song on our radio, the tune and words still remembered by me. 

In fact, this song registered with me for a lifetime, and I am certain that there are Laurens County seniors who also remember this song.

It goes like this:

Any bonds today?

Bonds of freedom, that’s what I’m selling

Any bonds today?

Scrape up the most you can,

Here comes the freedom man,

Asking you to buy your share of freedom today.

Patriotism in America was alive and well during those tough times. 

And, we are living in tough times today as there are anti-American forces pulling at the seams of our country. 

Standing strong for America is as patriotic today as buying war bonds was many years ago. A young Christian ministerial student wrote these words in 1832: “… Long may our land be bright with freedom’s holy light; protect us by thy might, Great God, our King.” (Samuel F. Smith, 1808-1895)

Let us renew our love for America during these turbulent times, for we are “one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all.”

This writing closes with Irving Berlin’s song that was made famous by singer Kate Smith in 1938, as World War II was on the horizon. Note that this patriotic song becomes a prater with a comma after God:

God, bless America, land that I love,

Stand beside her and guide her

Through the night with the light from above;

From the mountains, to the prairie,

To the ocean white with foam,

God bless America, my home sweet home,

God bless America, my home sweet home.

Peace

P.S. Any bonds today?