What happens when you take one of the top 50 songs in this history of pop music (according Billboard Magazine's list of All-Time Top Songs)---OneRepublic's 'Apologize'---give it new lyrics that teach about the Declaration of Independence, and create a video of the Founding Fathers singing it? You get a viral YouTube hit that is being shown in classrooms across America. Enjoy.
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JFI Veteran Volunteer Works with Teachers in Arizona
This month, our Veteran Volunteer Spotlight is shined on Bob Madden, a long-time JFI volunteer who has been giving classroom presentations in the greater Phoenix, AZ area for more than five years.
The Beacon (TB): Please tell us about your military service.
Bob Madden (BM): I served with the 173rd Airborne in Viet Nam, and then taught at the Airborne School at Fort Benning and earned the rank of Captain before leaving the military in 1973.
TB: How did you first hear about the Joe Foss Institute?
BM: I don’t remember how I first heard about it, but I have loved being a part of it and appreciate having the opportunity to help inspire patriotism in the classroom.
TB: What motivated you to get involved?
BM: I really care about patriotism in schools, and I want to see it promoted. If you read Joe Foss' book, you'll see that's what he cared about, too.
Last month we introduced you to JFI’s new President and CEO, Dr. Lucian Spataro. This month we sat down to interview him about his background, his excitement about his new role, and about the future of the Joe Foss Institute.
TB: (The Beacon): Tell us about why you are excited about your new role at JFI.
LS: Big picture, I'm convinced that JFI is well-positioned to make a difference in the lives of students—and ultimately in the life of our nation as a whole, as these students become leaders down the road.
There is such an emphasis in our educational system today on science, technology, engineering, and math—often referred to in educational circles as STEM)—that civic education has really fallen by the wayside.
For example, an arm of the U.S. Department of Education reported last year that fewer than 35% of fourth graders understand the purpose of the Declaration of Independence. Yet our founding fathers talked often
Are you looking for a way to earn money for college while at the same time sharing just why you feel that America is such a great country?
Well, we are proud to offer such an opportunity through our first ever Joe Foss Institute Video Scholarship Contest!
Our mission is to inspire young Americans to patriotic public service, and to educate students about values like patriotism, integrity, public service and what it means to be a citizen who defends and upholds these values.
Through our video contest, students all over the country will be able to share their thoughts on what it means to be an American and just why the values that we hold as a country are worth defending.
If you want to learn more about our video scholarship contest and what you can do for a chance to win the grand prize, read on.
Vietnam Veteran & JFI Volunteer Serves Students in California
The Beacon conducted an interview recently with LtCol Ed Benes, USMC (Ret.), a Joe Foss Institute Veteran Volunteer (pictured below with Lorna Jacoby, a middle school teacher, after he had presented in her classroom). We caught up with him between a round of golf and a presentation he was going to make at a Rotary Club. In his words, "if I have free time in my schedule, I'm going to do something productive with it."
The Beacon (TB): Please tell our readers a bit about your military background.
LtCol Benes: I joined the Marines in January of 1968. I told my recruiter I wanted to fly airplanes, and he told me all the hurdles I'd have to jump through to fly, since I didn't have a college education. He was blunt and honest, and made it sound like a long shot, but I thought "I've got a shot, let's go for it." And it turned out about like he said it would.
I eventually got to fly, but it was not an easy road. I went to boot camp in San Diego, and thought 'what have I gotten myself into?' I ended up in Vietnam as an Infantry Platoon Leader in 1/5--Bravo Company 1st Batallion, 5th Marines. Eventually I became the Company Executive Officer, and then spent time back in the States, in Hawaii and later at Parris Island, before I finally got the go-ahead from the Marines to fly. So I headed off to flight school in the early summer of 1973, and starting in 1975, I flew A-4s. I retired in 1989 as the CO of MWHS-3, the Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3. TB: On behalf of myself personally--and on behalf of the Joe Foss Institute, and the United States of America--thank you for your service to our nation.
This story was passed on to us by one of our Veteran Volunteers:
I came back home from Kuwait in late 2002 alone, and spent the night in Baltimore before flying back home to Tucson the following day.
I arrived at the hotel mid-afternoon and after beginning to unwind after a walk, showered and dressed for a nice, all-American dinner of steak and potatoes with all the fixings. I sat at a small table in the corner of the restaurant reading a book when my server approached me about halfway through my meal. He told me that my dinner and drinks had been paid for by an older couple sitting across the dining room. I arose and walked over to them to thank them and they invited me to finish my dinner as their guests.
After the server settled me at their table and I thanked them for their generosity, the gentleman told me this story. It was obvious, he said that I was in the military and he wanted to thank me in his own way, as well as paying a long-standing debt.
This man was a WW II veteran, and after returning home from Europe in 1945,
This story was passed on to us by one of our Beacon Readers:
I am inspired by my son.
Alec Albright is 13 years old and a member of the USAF Civil Air Parol, Sikorsky Memorial Airport, Stratford Connecticut.
As a member he has developed a deep devotion to the military and recognizes the sacrifices made. Alec was recently inspired by an article he read in his VOLUNTEER Magazine, produced by the Civil Air Patrol. The commander was asking that people support recent legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to volunteer members of Civil Air Patrol for their service in WWII.
During the war, volunteers sank Uboats, many died, and they utilized their own planes in service to protect the homeland. Alec has since created a petition to gain support for this bill.
IN former songs Pride have I sung, and Love, and passionate, joyful Life, But here I twine the strands of Patriotism and Death.
And now, Life, Pride, Love, Patriotism and Death, To you, O FREEDOM, purport of all! (You that elude me most—refusing to be caught in songs of mine,) I offer all to you.
’Tis not for nothing, Death, I sound out you, and words of you, with daring tone—embodying you, In my new Democratic chants—keeping you for a close, For last impregnable retreat—a citadel and tower, For my last stand—my pealing, final cry.
The darkness crumbles away - It is the same old druid Time as ever. Only a live thing leaps my hand - A queer sardonic rat - As I pull the parapet's poppy To stick behind my ear.
Listen, my children, and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five: Hardly a man is now alive Who remembers that famous day and year.
He said to his friend, "If the British march By land or sea from the town to-night, Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry-arch Of the North-Church-tower, as a signal-light,-- One if by land, and two if by sea; And I on the opposite shore will be, Ready to ride and spread the alarm Through every Middlesex village and farm, For the country-folk to be up and to arm."
The Beacon (TB): Please tell our readers a bit about your military background.