Recently I received a letter from the county courthouse. Once again I was being summoned for jury duty. This would be my fourth time. Previously I didn’t mind my service. This time around, it seemed inconvenient, for a couple of reasons. I must admit that I wished I could find a way to get out of it this time. Not having sufficient grounds for dismissal, I studied the bus schedule and the day before my service drove to the area where I planned to leave my car. I checked out the availability of parking close to a place that appeared relatively safe to wait for the bus.

I arose early on the morning of my first day of service, drove my car to the bus stop, and rode the bus to avoid the parking dilemmas of downtown parking. I exited the bus a couple blocks before I should have and walked to the courthouse. It was a brisk April morning, but it wasn’t raining. I entered through the door designated for the public at the historic courthouse building. I climbed the steps, waited in line, then placed my purse and tote bag on the security conveyor belt and waited for them at the other end.

I followed the signs to the jury assembly room down the hall. After checking in, I was given a tag to wear around my neck that showed I was an approved juror.

The introductory remarks by one of the presiding judges soon began. He reminded us of the importance of jury service. Someone’s future was depending on our service. I realized then that it was worth all the effort. How could I forget what a privilege it is to have the justice system that we have? In other countries you might be slammed into prison on trumped-up charges and never be given a fair trial. Our system may not be perfect, but it’s one we should greatly appreciate. At times there are circumstances wherein it isn’t possible or it isn’t sensible for us to serve on jury duty. But whenever circumstances permit, we should be grateful to be a part of the system.

After watching the movie The Patriot a couple of weeks ago, I felt inspired to put some thoughts into poetic form. We have so much for which we should be grateful in this country. We need to wake up and put our whole hearts into making our country the way our forefathers, who paid such a great price, meant it to be.

I hope the poem below will be meaningful to you. At the end, you will have the opportunity to print a copy, if you wish. There will also be a song I found inspiring.

REMEMBER THE COLORS

At the sight of Old Glory’s red, white, and blue,

As it gently waves in the warm summer breeze,

My heart longs to know that its colors ring true,

That we in this land will renew loyalties.

The red reminds us of the blood that was shed

To fight for freedom from a king’s tyranny,

The courage to form a new nation instead,

With fair representation and religious liberty.

Do we think about all the sacrifices made,

Of the agony of war that they had to abide?

Do we think of the bravery and the pain,

Or understand the loss of loved ones who died?

If we did, would it be inconvenient for us to study a ballot measure

And scrutinize all the candidates competing in the election?

Would we look for a feeble excuse to avoid our service as a juror?

Would we pass up an opportunity to support a needed petition?

The white in the flag brings to our minds the purity that we will need

To keep our nation thriving as it really ought to be–

Leaders with good motives for wanting to win a seat,

Citizens with honest work, who live unselfishly.

For the wisdom God gave our forefathers, are we truly thankful?

They designed a brand new kind of nation, “conceived in liberty

And dedicated to the proposition that all are created equal.”

Are we grateful for the three branches, to balance the powers that be?

If we were, would we cheat on our taxes, without a trace of guilt?

Would a congressman hold an office, just for his personal gain?

Would our judges skew the basic laws on which our country was built?

Would our governors be caught in crimes, resulting in great shame?

The blue color that our flag displays is a reminder of our freedom–

The freedom that the Pilgrims crossed the perilous ocean to attain,

The freedom to worship God without restraints from any kingdom,

The freedom to which all men who lack it are yearning to lay claim.

Do we think of the great oppression that the Pilgrims must have endured,

That would make them willing to risk their lives, just to possess their freedom?

Do we think of the countless oppressed today, in many parts of the world?

Do we ponder what it would be like without this priceless gift we’ve been given?

If we did, would people of color be treated unfairly in our land?

Would we deny a child the right to be born and be held in loving arms,

Or punish a person whose religious convictions made him take a stand?

Would we oppose a means to guard our freedom—the right to bear firearms?

It’s time to go back to the roots of our nation

To remember what the red and white and blue mean.

It’s time to remember our country’s foundation

And remember the brave, who built a home for the free.

© JoAnne Lily Stark 2018. Permission to reproduce without alteration.

For a printable copy of the poem, CLICK HERE.

Below is a relatively new, beautiful patriotic song I had never heard before. I hope it stirs your love for your country, as it did mine.