VIDEO: July 4th observed in Diamond Park

By Jane Smith
Meadville Tribune

07/05/08 July 05, 2008 01:20 pm

— Click image for video


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You don’t have to wrap yourself in a flag to be a patriot was the message Friday given by retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Michael E. Dunlavey as Meadville celebrated America’s birthday.
“Wrapping yourself in an American flag is not a patriot. A patriot is being involved in your community,” he told the audience of about 200 people who gathered on the lawn of Diamond Park to celebrate American’s Independence Day.
Dunlavey, a judge in the Erie County Court of Common Pleas, is a Vietnam War veteran and has served in the military in many countries. Most recently, he was chosen by the Secretary of Defense to create and establish an interrogation center and holding system for al-Qaida, Taliban and other terrorists from around the world in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
He urged people to vote and to get involved in community activities, such as working in a Habitat for Humanity program, Meals on Wheels or others.
“A real patriot is not somebody who just whines, complains and obstructs and gets in the way. It’s somebody who comes up with a solution,” he said.
Tracing America’s roots back to the decision made to break away from England, he noted when it came to declaring independence from England, “one third wanted to be free from England; one third wanted to remain Loyalists or royalists; and the other third didn’t care.”
“It seems like the way it is today,” he offered, noting our nation was born of “ideals rather than coercion.”
Speaking about the war in Iraq, he continued, “We are in a war no matter what anybody says. It’s a war.”
At the same time, he noted, “As soldiers, we don’t debate what started it. Our job is to fight and win.”
Everyone who came to America came to make a better life for their family.
“We are a country of justice. We try to make it happen every day. We are not perfect,” he said, but noted that having traveled to every country in the world, “I have never seen a better place for it (justice).”
“We have so much. We can be here today. I can speak without worrying about the Gestapo or the KGB. I don’t have to worry about bombs going off,” he added.
He noted in the past seven months, 200 attacks against the United States have been stopped, but noted officials must keep it quiet how that has happened so the “bad guys don’t get onto us.”
Many sacrifices have been made by millions of American families that have “made our country such a special place to be.”
He cited particularly that in America people charged with a crime have a right to a jury trial. In comparison, he said in France, if suspected of a crime “you must prove your innocence because if the government says you are guilty, the government can never be wrong.”
He also stressed the importance of Americans “right to vote,” urging those not registered to vote to do so immediately.
“You vote determines whether we will be at war. Your vote is so important,” he said. Noting he was not advocating which presidential candidate to vote for, he mentioned one had just “visited Iraq for the first time,” noting now you can see “he changed his pitch about the war. He’s getting educated. He’s no longer in Chicago. That’s good news. We don’t want somebody in the White House who doesn’t know what it’s like to experience war.”
Citing the importance of voting, he noted except for President Reagan’s landslide election, every (presidential) election has been decided by one vote per precinct (across America). “Please get out and vote.”
He continued that in 1776, the Army was started and the Marines were founded in 1775. “In 1776, we said we are breaking away from England. For 232 years we (America) has responded by putting our boots on the ground and going where it is needed,” he concluded.
“We have brought freedom to a lot of people (in Iraq). We have paid the price with 4,000 families who have heard the knock on the door and gotten bad news,” he said, adding another 10,000 families have had members who have suffered injuries.
When veterans come home from war, he said, he “hopes people back here are supportive of them.
“Let’s not forget,” he said. “Help them in any way you can.”
He predicts Americans will remain strong. “Despite whatever problems facing America, be it recessions or floods, Americans just don’t quit.”
The traditional 13-gun salute, honoring the original 13 colonies, opened the service and traditional playing of taps by George Engelhardt closed the program.
Members of Yesterday’s Sounds presented vocals of the National Anthem and “God Bless America” and Eagle Scout Cameron Eddy led the pledge of allegiance. The Meadville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2006 sponsored the program and conducted the military aspects of it.
1st Lt. Rev. Richard Allen, chaplain of the Pennsylvania National Guard, gave the invocation and benediction.
“Freedom is the fabric uniting all Americas,” said Dick Stephenson, chairman of the program, as he opened the service.
On Friday, that actual fabric was seen in the red, white and blue bunting decorating the gazebo and waving in the calm breeze —perhaps reminiscent of the flag waving in the skies the night that Francis Scott Key wrote the National Anthem —reminding Americans of the many freedoms we have.

FIREWORKS SCHEDULE
Saturday at Conneaut Lake
Saturday at Pymatuning State Park at the dam in Jamestown; none at Linesville this year.
Sunday at Canadohta Lake Park
Sunday at The Movies at Meadville

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