Amazing Grace was written by John Newton (1725-1807), a slave-trading naval officer, a non-believer, after a harrowing sea voyage. This life-changing hymn is performed today, more than 1.5 million times per year.
Sunday 24 May 2014, I heard the Utah Pipe Band special rendition of Amazing Grace with my daughter and grandson. First, a bagpipe solo, then gentle piping by the band, then the full-volume of the bagpipes rang and echoed through the mountains east of Bountiful Utah. What a thrill!
This performance was part of the Memorial Day celebration at Lakeview Cemetery where my parents and brother are buried.
If we don’t share our love of country, our deep devotion to freedom, and our appreciation to the God who gave us these gifts, with our children and grandchildren, the next generations will parrot the God-less unbelief that has haunted younger generations throughout history.
The best sharing is perhaps the “hands-on” kind–where daughters and grandsons see and feel first-hand. And as the tears of gratitude welled-up in my eyes, I was glad to be there with them. Your favorite genealogist, Arlene Eakle http://arleneeakle.com
PS Did you hunt in vain, like I did, for a Memorial Day program on television? A few old war movies played through the day on selected channels. No flag ceremony. No rousing songs. No patriotic speeches shared over the wires for the public at large. Very, very, sad.