Some Memorial Day Thoughts
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Morning Jolt May 26, 2014 Some Memorial Day Thoughts Dear Friends, National Review is closed today, a day of remembrance rather than of celebration, in honor of those who died for our liberty. Hence no Morning Jolt. Most people find a way to recognize the spirit and point of the day. I try to, starting a day early: I am the cantor at my church, and yesterday at Mass, as I do on every Memorial Day weekend, I sang "Eternal Father, Strong to Save," also known as the Naval Hymn. It's quite beautiful, solemn, and moving. More so when others sing it, of course. I recommend this version to put you in a mood, if only briefly, to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. You'll not begrudge me a few notes. The first is that Jim Geraghty's new novel, The Weed Agency, is out officially next week. Jonah Goldberg blurbs it quite nicely: "The Weed Agency brilliantly captures the absurdity of the real Washington. It is, as they say, funny because it's true." And S.E. Cupp says "Geraghty captures the hilarious realities of Washington waste brilliantly. And we all need to laugh at Washington to stop from crying." If you're keeping score, that's two "brilliantly" plugs for Jim! Now, if you are brilliant, you will order your copy of The Weed Agency right now, right here. There was no weed agency infesting Washington when good old Calvin Coolidge was president. Cal's birthday falls on another federal holiday, Independence Day, and it just so happens that every year the birthday is particularly and specially celebrated in Plymouth Notch, Vermont — our 30th president's birthplace (and where the vacationing Veep's dad administered the oath of office upon learning of the sudden passing away of President Warren Harding). Just how special a celebration occurs in Plymouth Notch? Glad you asked. NR's own Rich Lowry will be joining, among others, Coolidge biographers Amity Shlaes (the NRO columnist is also Chairman/CEO of the Coolidge Foundation) and David Pietrusza in a patriotic, all-American, flag-waving public reading of Thirty's brief and compelling Autobiography, all of it done with great class and style at the family's Union Christian Church. It's always a wonderful day, and a lovely place: You can walk the gentle village, grab lunch at the colonial-style Wilder House Restaurant, and take your children and grandchildren on the parade to the president's gravesite. If you picture it as an ideal outing for families who want their kids to know more about America's past, well, you'd be right. This event free and open to all, and some of the public can join Rich and Amity in the group reading of the Autobiography. Sign up or find more information here. (And if you'd like a taste of Coolidge's Autobiography, you can listen to a reading of Chapter One here.) Looking further down the calendar towards November, think about the National Review Post-Election Cruise, which we all know you want very much to be on. Make that happen. God bless you and yours, and especially on this very day, all who since Lexington and Concord have given life or limb in selfless defense of our inalienable rights. Jack Fowler Publisher To read more, visit www.nationalreview.com
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