Summer has officially arrived and the activity at the Capitol has gone into a hectic “behind the scene” mode.  As a friend once said, he was amazed at how Minnesotans seemed to disappear during the summer months – especially on weekends.

 

Key events this month started with Flag Day on June 14.  The original flag with its 13 stars represented a very young country.  Over the years since then there has been 27 versions of the flag.  The last version was with the addition of Hawaii, our 50th State.  With both Flag Day and the upcoming Fourth of July, I ask that you take a moment of silence to reflect on the sacrifices the men and women of this great country have made throughout our history.  Yes, we have our moments of silence, but it was during a trip my wife and I were on – in Sofia, Bulgaria, that we saw a vivid example.  With warning sirens blaring, we saw the busy traffic on a multi-lane highway literally stop.  The people got out of their cars, stood at attention facing the direction of the sound.  It lasted about five minutes then stopped. They got back in their cars and continued on.  I often wonder what would happen if we tried that here in St. Paul.

I say that because D-Day, June 6, 1944, has been an unforgettable testament to the sacrifices the men and women of our country have made to enable us to have the freedoms we enjoy. The movie, ‘Saving Private Ryan,’ I believe, should be a segment in the history classes taught to emphasize that the life we have been given came at a very expensive cost throughout of nation’s history.  As the old saying goes, “Those who fail to study history, tend to repeat it!”

 

Again - enjoy the bounty that Minnesota has given us all.  But also take a moment to reflect on how we can help those in need.  Random acts of kindness can make a great difference to so many.