CAPT. S. M. SHELTON, USM
Commanding Officer
CDR. E. L. CRANCE, USN
Executive Officer
Published each Monday for all personnel
on Adak by Special Services. Provisions
for NavExos P-35 (Rev.July 58) complied
with. Mimeographed at NavSta Adak. Funds
furnished from non-appropriated sources
at no cost to the government. Articles
contained herein are.notto be construed
as representing the official opinion of
the Commanding Officer or the Navy Dep
artment, inasmuch as the Adak Sun is not
an official publication.
EDITOR: H. T. DAVIS, YN1 055-J or 365
C r\ A ?LA J jxJ S COK jxJ i jX
"ONE NATION UNDER GOD"
By: FRANCIS A. FAY
In the memory of most of us the
fourth of July has been a day of re
laxation celebrated at beaches and
ball-parks. Before that it was cele
brated in picnic groves and at na
tural shrines with bands playing,
church bells ringing and orators or
ating. Recently, a definite trend to
return to this older and more solemn
observance of the anniversary of in
dependence has been developing*
Comparatively snail groups of peo
ple gather in places of historic sig
nificance, listen to a band play pa
triotic songs, hear speakers eulogize
the founding fathers and the politi
cal' philosophy of our nation*
The reasons for this restoration
are obscure. It* nay be that people
feel that it is safer not to drive on
a holiday, or it nay indicate a pref
erence for ants in the picnic lunch
instead of sand in the hot dogs* It
my even be due to a renewed appre
ciation of the symbols of anerican
isn, the Declaration of Independence,
(continued next column)
the Preamble to tho Constitution, the
Flog, the Pledge of Allegiance. What
ever the underlying causes it seems to
be a good trend.
It should be remembered, however,
that there is more to patriotism tehan
saluting the flag and honoring the
symbols of liberty. Patriotism is a.
love for country which does not stop
short of personal sacrifice. The love
is motivated by an intellectual appre*
ciation of how much an individual owes
to this country. It is based on the
realization of what it has given him,
is giving him now and guarantees for
the future. In order of importance it
is next after one’s love for God,
It would seen that a fruitful ob
servance of “Independence Day would de
pond on sone real thinking* What has
this nation given to its citizens?
Many People nay conclude that the in
portant benefits of the United States
are material-prosperity, comfort and
the like. Others will look core deep
ly to discover the dignity that the
United States bestows on the individ
ual. It guarantees hin freedom of
thought, expression, worship; it pro
tects his rights to life, to represen
tation in legislation, to private pro
perty, to 'self-determination. Sone
gifted people nay think even more
deeply to arrive at a recognition of
even greater benefits to motivate a
deep love for country.
Love for country, like love for God
and love for family, is expressed not
by saying but by doing* It my seen
that there is little loft’to be done*
There are no more undeveloped lands
within our boundaries or even on their
fringes* The whole world recognizes
the United States as an industrial,
military and commercial giant. The
tine of accomplishment seems to be
past.
The necessity for accomplishment
motivated by love is never past in a
(continued on page S)