God Bless America
When I was 12 years old, my mother’s parents, who we called Na-Na and Pop-Pop, moved from Bella Vista, Arkansas, to a new home in Homosassa, Florida. On their way, they stopped by our home in the St. Louis area for a visit. Knowing that I was interested in antiques and history, they brought with them several items which they gifted to me as they moved to Florida. Included was a 38-star American flag, a military service flag with two stars, three helmets, and several other vintage military items.
As each item was unwrapped, my grandparents explained the significance of the things that were gifted to me. All the military items were things that once belonged to my Na-Na’s father, Charles Renninger, who had served in the expeditionary forces of World War I in France. Included was his brodie helmet, a canteen, leggings, wrappings, a pouch, and two German helmets. The two-star Blue Service flag had been hung by the great-great grandparents, Sarah and George Renninger (inventor of candy corn), while my great-grandfather and his brother were fighting overseas in World War I.
Following the war, my great-grandfather, who was a civil engineer, was one of the first American students to study in France, staying on for a year at the university in Clermont-Ferrand. After my Na-Na passed away, the letters that my great-grandfather Charles had sent home during the war years came into my possession. In one of those letters is my great-grandfather’s description of the two German helmets he sent home as souvenirs of war. Additionally, there were letters between him and several French girls he met during his time there. As a side note, my Na-Na Marcelaine, was named after a girl he knew in France. That name would then be passed to my mother. My mother’s middle name, Yvonne, was the name of a girl who my Pop-Pop had known while fighting as a gunner in Germany in World War II. That middle name is now the one shared by my daughter Norah.
All of the above is to say that the effects of military service, and in particular, wartime, are profound and everlasting. The premise of this prologue is to relate that while I never served in the armed forces, I have always had an awareness and appreciation and respect of the sacrifices made by those who have served in the military, with relatives that have served in every war that had American involvement, including my father, who served in the Air Force as a medic in the Philippines during the Vietnam War.
Last spring, as I was planning the 2025-26 Bach’s Lunch Recital Series, I wanted our November community musical offering to tie into Veterans’ Day. Yesterday, the All American Brass Quintet of the 82nd Airborne Band offered an incredibly moving program of patriotic music for the students of Episcopal Day School, the people of Emmanuel parish, and the citizens of Moore County. The music that these soldiers offered provided an opportunity to build bridges between the civilian and military worlds. It allowed for connections between currently enlisted men and women, children whose parents are active military, our veterans, and all those who enlisted men and women serve and protect. Their music was educational and an offering of thanks for all the veterans that were in attendance, of which there were many. On a personal note, having served at Emmanuel for 15 years now, many in the audience were known to me, however, I had no idea that so many were veterans of our armed forces. It confirms to me the reality of how many serve, yet afterwards, lead a quiet life, never drawing attention to their years of valor.
After choir rehearsal on Wednesday night, Monika Brown and I were the last to leave. I escorted her to her car, and then as I walked to my car, I noticed something I had not seen before at Emmanuel. Shining brightly and proudly in the night was the American flag, the new installation that was dedicated last Sunday. It was a beautiful sight to see, watching over the memorial garden, a symbol of freedom and liberty, with our stone church in the background. To the men and women of Emmanuel who made this new addition to our campus possible, thank you. To all who have served, including those who never came home, thank you.
Freedom is not free. May we never forget. God bless America.
