Vol 37 Issue 6
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ALPHA PHI OMEGA GREATER LOS ANGELES ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
July 2017
TEARS OF JO Y AS I CELEBRA TE 4TH OF JUL Y JOY CELEBRATE JULY By Bro. Dan E. Nino
Cerritos, California — I’m reminded again of my winning speech at the Eclectic Dialectics Toastmasters Club when I witnessed anew this year’s celebration of the 4th of July Independence Day in the City of Cerritos. Here’s an excerpts of that stirring speech,”My Abiding Faith in America.” “Whenever I watch the display of fireworks every 4th of July, I’m overwhelmed with emotions, great joy and pride. I get goose bumps. Tears of joy stream down my cheeks because of that pride and abiding faith in America. And because America had welcomed me, nurtured me, sheltered me, nourished me and cradled me that transformed me for whatever I am today.” “Yes, tears cascade down my cheeks whenever I hear the patriotic songs God bless America or America, the Beautiful while the fireworks zoomed into the sky.” “Yes, whoever I am today, whatever I possess, whatever I have achieved, I owe it to my adopted country, the United States of America. I feel that America made me who I am. I feel that I have achieved my American Dream. I feel that I’m nothing without America because I started with nothing. Only my determination to succeed had sustained me.” Although I’m a true-blooded Filipino by birth, history repeated itself again when the patriotic song blared, “I’m proud to be an American,” I was taken by emotions once more. I’m truly grateful that this welcoming country cradled me through thick and thin, come hell or high water, despite its recent toxic politics that divide and polarize this nation. The celebration debuted with my good friend and newly-elected Cerritos Mayor Grace Hu delivered opening remarks, followed by other remarks and acknowledgements by four other council members Mark Pulido, Frank Aurelio Yokoyama, James Edward and Naresh Solanki. Thereafter, members of the Let Freedom Ring Committee took turns in ringing the bell 13 times symbolizing the 13 original colonies of the young American Republic. Then about a dozen uniformed militias of the American revolution marched. One militia played solemnly the “Star-Spangled Banner” with his flute. After 30 minutes of ceremony, the so-called Remystified seven-man band performed pop music including songs from The Beatles, John Legend, Adele, Bruno Mars, Journey and Earth Wind & Fire. Then came the fantastic fireworks that flew towards the sky in wild abandon. Then came my tears of joy!