On D-Day, Remembering My Dad
On June 6, 1944, as the dawn broke on Normandy beaches, troops from America, Britain, Canada and France executed a dangerous plan to liberate France from Nazi tyranny. The operation was to storm the...
View ArticleThe 13 Catholics in Statuary Hall: On Memorial Day, Remembering Our Heroes
One of the most popular tourist destinations in Washington, D.C. is National Statuary Hall. Also known as the Old Hall of the House, it’s a semicircular gallery immediately south of the Capitol...
View ArticleLieut. Bill Funchess, Former POW, Remembers His Friend Fr. Emil Kapaun
Lieutenant William Funchess leaned forward in his chair, recounting a story he’s told many times before–a story of harsh beatings and cold nights, long marches and cruel guards, and the friendship of...
View ArticleThe Stars and Bars–No Longer on Cars (Or Anywhere Else?)
The Confederate flag has to go! That’s a popular sentiment among some Americans in the aftermath of the Charleston church shootings on June 17, which left nine African-American Christians dead at the...
View ArticleShouldn’t We Celebrate Our Nation’s Birthday on July 2?
I’m a fan of Dan Lewis’ book Now I Know and his daily email blog by the same name. He uncovers the “news behind the news”–the unusual facts which leave you scratching your head, and the trivia that...
View ArticleIt’s Fourth of July Weekend: Will Your Parish Sing Patriotic Hymns?
Will your parish include patriotic songs in the liturgy this weekend? I’m talking about the old “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” and “God Bless America” and “America the Beautiful” sort of tunes. I read a...
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