RED, WHITE AND BLUE ARE PRIDE COLORS

America needs patriotism and prayer

By Mary Ann Mueller

VOL Special Correspondent

www.virtueonline.org

June 17, 2025

On June 14, 1775 the Continental Army was established. Two hundred and fifty years later there was a parade in Washington, DC celebrating that early colonial foundation.

But somewhere along the line, what should be a patriotic celebration of an historical American event, got all tied up in the fact that the President of the United States and Commander-in-Chief of the US Armed Forces, of which the US Army is a part, happened to be born in 1946 on the Army’s 171st anniversary and the media's focus was switched from the Army to Donald J. Trump.

The President admires the military. He got a taste of quasi military life from 1959-1964 when he was sent to the New York Military Academy to finish his final junior high year and high school.

He apparently took to military school life like a duck to water. He achieved cadet rank quickly: private, 1960; corporal, 1961; sargeant, 1962, supply sergeant, 1963; and the coveted cadet captain, 1964.

He was active in athletics participating in softball, baseball, football, soccer, bowling, weights, and wrestling.

He also learned how to organize events. In 1963 he was the commanding officer for the Columbus Day Parade and during his junior and senior years he was in the Fall Hop and Ring Hop committees. He also became the commanding officer of the 1963 & 1964 Honor Guards. He learned his organizational lessons well. Little did he realize that they would come in handy in 2025.

Following military school Trump headed to college. In 1968 he earned a degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania. However, he did not pursue a military career and he had a high enough selective service number which kept him out of the draft. But his interest in the military never waned and admiration of military brass increased.

Donald Trump didn't grow up to be a four-star general, he grew up to be the President, and as president he became the Commander-in-Chief – twice.

In 2025 the Army celebrated its 250th year of existence as Donald J. Trump was president for a second time. So Donald Trump did what Donald Trump does. It's just his style. He pulled out all the stops and put everything into a grand military parade complete with marching bands, soldiers in period uniforms, horses, bands and a variety of military armament.This year the Army's actual anniversary date happened to fall on a Saturday, which also happened to be Trump's birthday.

Trump wasn't the only person celebrating his birthday with a flashy parade on Saturday. King Charles III of England, too, pulled out all the stops for the Trooping of the Color – the annual formal summer celebration of his birthday. His actual birthday is Nov. 14, 1948.

I remember watching Trump's first term Salute to America on July 4, 2019. I was very proud to be an American that day. I was thrilled at seeing the flags, hearing the patriotic music and witnessing the fireworks.

Before that in June 2015 President Barack Obama lit the White House up in gay pride colors to celebrate the Supreme Court’s split decision on Obergefell v. Hodges which legalized same-sex marriage across the land. As a first generation American – my mother comes from Norway – I felt deep humiliation.

Then in 2023 President Joe Biden flew a gay pride flag from the White House portico and the LGBTQ community was feted to a summer South Lawn party where there were topless women proudly flaunting their sexuality. I was horrified that such an openly sexual display occurred at the People's House. This surely did not reflect me and my sentimentalities, as I'm an American, too.

This year I watched part of the Army's birthday parade – about an hour’s worth. I was fascinated by the military history being revealed – the period uniforms from the American Revolution, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Gulf War …

I give Trump more of the benefit of the doubt than I do Obama and Biden.

In a Washington Post op/ed Max Boot writes: “I think it was a good thing for Americans to be reminded of the glorious history of their Army — a force for freedom that has defeated some of the most monstrous evils of the past two centuries, including the Confederacy, Imperial and Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and the Soviet empire.”

And I agree with him. Like it or not, Donald Trump gave us that opportunity.

I come from a military-type family. My grandfather was in the Merchant Marines during the Great War (WWI). The civilian maritime transporters always work closely with the military during periods of armed conflict. For years I had Grandpa's sea chest. I remember playing with the sea chest as a child growing up. It contained so many treasures and now fond memories.

But last year I was forced to move and no longer have room for Grandpa's sea chest. I had to give it away to a dear friend. Such a great loss for me.

I had a paternal uncle, of happy memory, who was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska when it was still a US Army cavalry post – Fort Crook. In the early to mid 1970s vestiges of the cavalry remained at Offutt when we were stationed there. I had a greater appreciation for the base because of my uncle's early cavalry’s connection.

At one time my uncle was the most knowledgeable man alive when it came to military nutrition and I remember, even in his retirement years, the Pentagon calling and dispatching him all over the world to solve localized military base food problems.

My Daddy was in the Navy. He was in Pearl Harbor following the Japanese bombing. He used to regale his friends with stories about the shenanigans he got into during his off duty time. Following his service Daddy was active in the CAP – Civilian Air Patrol. He had his small plane pilot's license and I remember flying with him.

I'm a Viet Nam era Air Force wife – now widow. My son was born at an Air Force base in what was then West Germany.

Then when he grew up he joined the Army. So my family has about 100 years of intermittent involvement with various branches of the military.

I'm not advocating for President Trump and his style of governing, but I deeply appreciate his visible patriotism. I must admit I admire the President’s patriotic emphasis, but I am finding it increasingly problematic to see the heavy-handed approach he takes to governance. 

And now the country is exploding in protests, demonstrations and outright rioting as a result of it. This is very troubling and not good for the country as a whole. This drives me to my knees in tearful prayer.

“Ye shall pray for the President of these United States, and for the Governor of this State, and for all that are in authority; that all, and every one of them, may serve truly in their several callings to the glory of God, and the edifying and well-governing of the people, remembering the account they shall be called upon to give at the last great day,” the 1928 BCP Bidding Prayer pleads.

But there was much more to experience other than the media's singular focus on Trump's June 14th birthday. That day is also the Feast Day of Saint Methodius I of Constantinople, celebrated by both the East and the West. The entire Church remembers Saint Methodius I of Constantinople who was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from 843-847 AD.

It was also on June 14, 2008 my foster mother died at 89-years-old. Following the death of my natural mother in 1951 she stepped in and raised me. I owe her much.

June 14 is also Flag Day commemorating the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress, two years to the day after the establishment of the Continental Army on June 14, 1775.

So the Army's 2025 Flag Day special birthday celebration was just the prelude to this country's 2026 Semiquincentennial, celebrating 250 years as a nation.

In 1976 the Bicentennial was a big event. Remember the Bicentennial Minute?

I remember when I was a kid all the stores in town would display flags, and the village put out flags along the sidewalks, and many houses were also flying flags. Small flags, too, were put out in the cemetery. And everything was repeated for Memorial Day, July 4th, and Veterans’ Day. Where have all the community flags gone? Where has honest patriotism gone? Where has pride in the Stars and Stripes gone?

We must start to turn our country around with prayer.

God, Himself, urges us on: "If My people, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 

(2 Chronicles 7:14)

The 1928 BCP Prayer For Our Country stresses the need peace and justice: “Almighty God, Who hast given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favour and glad to do Thy Will. Bless our land with honourable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogancy, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in Thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN”

Mary Ann Mueller is a journalist living in Texas. She is a regular contributor to VirtueOnline.