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Nebraska

Patriotic Video: America, I Love You

May 22, 2013 by info@3QuartersToday.com

This patriotic video might just make you forget the recent government scandals so prevalent right now. Although it seems patriotism and confidence in the United States is waning or lacking. I don’t think it’s true. Yes, if you listen to talk radio, or watch CNN or other news channels you might be depressed and discouraged. But I tell you, there are good people all across this country doing good things, helping out neighbors, serving in the military because they love where they live.

Keep Us Safe because Freedome is Not Free
Korean War Memorial: Washington DC on Memorial Day

When American citizens are left alone, without government intervention we help each other out and stand side by side during tragedies such as the recent Oklahoma tornadoes.

In this week leading up to Memorial Day, I want to remind people the greatness of the American people outside the Washington Beltway. Memorial Day is not only a day to remember our veterans and those who died serving our country but to gather together as families worship and celebrate life, and remember those who have died and left an impact on our lives.

America I love YouMarine Corps Graduation, San Diego CA I’ve wanted to create a patriotic video that includes the many photographs I’ve taken over the years that have a military theme, or veterans theme, but didn’t have the appropriate music. This song “America, I Love You” was written by my friend Steve Raybine, a jazz musician in Omaha, Nebraska. I first heard it last fall and fell in love with it and he graciously allowed me to use it for the video.

Veterans of all our wars deserve our thanks for making the sacrifice and serving their country. This includes not only the modern wars in Afghanistan and Iraq during Operation Enduring Freedom, Desert Shield, and Storm but the often forgotten Vietnam and Korean Veterans, along with those veterans from WWII and WWI.

It is the men and women of the Marine Corps, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and our National Guard that spend days away from family and friends, whether abroad or stationed in the United States, that serve to protect our freedom. We owe them our thanks for volunteering for a job many would never consider.The Flag Still Stands For Freedom

As you participate in Memorial Day celebrations, parades and picnics, stop by a cemetery and read the inscriptions on the War Memorials of soldiers from the French Indian War and even the Civil War. If you are lucky enough to live in New England search out the Revolutionary War cemeteries. Those soldiers truly fought for our freedom and Independence. They are the reason we celebrate the 4th of July.

If you recognize some of the photos it’s because they are some of my favorites from my Washington DC trip when my kids marched in the Memorial Day Parade and include the World War II Memorial, United States Marine Corps Memorial, Veterans Memorial, Korean War Memorial and other images of freedom and sacrifice.

I was really quite surprised I had so many photographs of the American Flag and color guards taken at various parades. It never fails to give me a chill when the American Legion leads a parade with the flags and people stand to applaud, salute or put their hand over their heart.
My goal is to create a national sensation with this song. Patriotic pride needs to once again resonate through the land. So reblog this post, tweet it, post it to your Facebook page and PIN it on PINTEREST, let’s see how far this video and song can spread.

So post this for Memorial Day, Flag Day, 4th of July, Veterans Day and all other patriotic holidays.

Thank you and God Bless.

Filed Under: Military Pride, Small Town Living Tagged With: America, celebration, flag Day, Holidays, Marine Corps War Memorial, memorial day, military, music, Nebraska, Omaha, patriotic, patriotic video, patriotism, politics, soldiers, United States, USMC, veterans, video, washington dc, YouTube

I Believe, in Music and In Life

April 28, 2013 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Music has played an important part in my life and I have been blessed that my children have participated and enjoyed their scholastic music careers. My son sang at Carnegie Hall in New York City, and both he and my daughter have participated in numerous honor choirs across the state.

With each experience comes an increased appreciation for music and how it impacts their life. Each clinician and conductor teaches the students an improved breathing technique, a new warm up routine, or even how posture and carriage affects the sound and tone.

Choir Concert and Competition

My life as a choir and band Mom is ending with the close of my daughters senior year in high school. Last week was the Nebraska district music contests across the state and I made the trek down to Nebraska City to listen to the band and choir perform. I have been honored to be a part of a program where 75% of the students participate in either band, choir, or both. What other high school can make that claim? I’d challenge any school in the country.

The first song the choir sang at the District Music contest was Ani Ma’amin and although the students could say it and sing it they couldn’t spell the title.  They could tell me it was a Jewish Hebrew song sung during the Holocaust. During the warm up director Betty Colbert recited the translation before they started. What a great way to teach multiculturalism, and history.

English Translation: 

“I believe with complete faith in the coming of the Messiah, and, though he may tarry, I wait daily for his coming.”

Hebrew:

“Ani Ma’amin be’emunah shlaima bevias haMoshiach, ve’af al pi sheyismame’ach im kol zeh achake lo b’chol yom sheyavo. Ani Ma’amin.”

It is not unusual for our choir selections to be religious or in another language, but I had not heard Hebrew before and the history of this song interested me. Ani Ma’amin is a song created and sung in the horrors of a cattle car full of Jewish prisoners. In one boxcar the sound of singing could be heard and it spread throughout the whole train.

The history of this song is stirring, inspirational, a song of faith and hope. From the Chabad.org website I learned the full story and it’s worth a visit.

I am partial to the choir, only because I sang in choir in high school and was the piano accompanist for several years, but I will post  the band performance later this week.

The day was especially moving for the seniors who will be graduating in just a few weeks. Their graduating class is only 32 students and in this small community most have been together since preschool. Out of the eleven students below eight of them started in preschool together. At this point it’s almost their whole lifetime.

 Related articles

  • Ani Ma’amin ~ I Believe (bokertov.typepad.com)
  • Things that Never Die by Elmwood-Murdock Choir (3quarterstoday.com)
  • Why Join a Choir? (boycekarenj.wordpress.com)
  • Day Three: “is your doing,my darling” (500daysofhappy.wordpress.com)
  • ANI MA’AMIN / I BELIEVE (With Complete Faith) (vineoflife.net)
  • April 8 – The March of the Living (leomartinmolblog.wordpress.com)

Filed Under: Family, Small Town Living Tagged With: Ani Ma'amin, Carnegie Hall, choir, chorus, culture, entertainment, Hebrew language, history, Holocaust, multiculturalism, music, Nebraska, Nebraska City, singing, video, World War II, WWII

Inspirational Moments in Sports: Nebraska Huskers Jack Hoffman

April 6, 2013 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Inspirational Moments in Sports

Team Jack,  aka Jack Hoffman and the Nebraska Cornhuskers, has forever changed the best inspirational moments in sports and I don’t think that is going to change soon. What started as a six-year old’s last wish, to meet his favorite Husker football player turned into an ESPN 2013 Best Moment in Sports history.

Sports is about more than winning. The team is more than just individuals. Support Team Jack as the Nebraska Huskers help raise money for pediatric brain cancer with a donation or an official Nebraska licensed brain tumor shirt.

Nebraska Husker football is not just a game, it’s an event.

Even during the spring game, the carnival environment is in full force with food, tailgating and getting together with family and friends.

Nebraska football tailgating at a Husker game is legendary. College football is not just a game here, it's an event.
University of Minnesota visits the Huskers in Lincoln Nebraska

Unforgettable Moment at the Nebraska Football Spring Game

The Nebraska Huskers are not only a football powerhouse team, but the players on this spring day in 2013 showed their very human side as it was just not a football game, but a lesson in compassion and integrity. Bo Pelini leads his players through a scrimmage and gave 60,000 fans a memory they will never forget.

Yes, you heard right.

Sixty thousand plus fans come out every year just to watch the Red: White game where the first team scrimmages against the second team in the final spring practice before the pre-season practice in late summer. The highest attendance of any NCAA team in the country. Why are Nebraska fans so loyal? You will soon find out.

The Nebraska football spring game is normally a glorified practice. But this one will stick out in my mind as the best one yet.

Team Jack Hoffman ESPN Espy 2012  Best Moment on Sports History
Jack gets his dream, score a touchdown for the Huskers.

Even during the spring game, the carnival environment is in full force with food, tailgating and getting together with family and friends.

Not only were “special” drills sprinkled in throughout the quarters as a “game break” to give the fans a taste of creative drills such as the “Good Hands” and the “Never Give Up” drill, but a special 4th quarter touchdown was made my a special seven-year-old player, Jack Hoffman.

Nebraska Husker football is not just a game, it’s an event.

Nebraska Husker Football

Jack Hoffman has been a special fan and friend of Rex Burkehead for two years and the whole team has gathered around him and supported him in his fight against pediatric brain cancer called Team Jack Foundation. Saturday he wore Burkehead’s number 22 and ran 69 yards for a touchdown which actually went on the board for the Red team.

There were very few dry eyes in the stadium and the entire team rushed the end zone and held Jack high on their shoulders. Watch for yourself and maybe, just maybe, the lesson that sports are more than just winning will be apparent.

2025 Update on Jack Hoffman

On January 15, 2025 Jack Hoffman died of brain cancer at age 18. It has hit the State of Nebraska hard. So many of us, including myself remember this game, and remember how he inspired the players. As a young boy he won an ESPN Espy award, met President Obama, and hi foundation has raised more than $14 million to aid pediatric brain cancer research.

Sports is about more than winning. The team is more than just individuals. Support Team Jack as the Nebraska Huskers help raise money for pediatric brain cancer with a donation.

Filed Under: Events Tagged With: athletes, Bo Pelini, Brain tumor, cancer patient, espn, espy awards, football, Husker Football, jack hoffman, National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA, Nebraska, Nebraska Cornhuskers, nebraska husker football, nebraska huskers, sports, Taylor Martinez, team jack

Graduation Invitations and Announcements

March 19, 2013 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Looking for graduation invitations and announcements for a graduating senior there are many designs to choose from. 

I love designing and since I’ve had three seniors graduate in three years senior graduation invitations and announcements were high on my priority list. 

Design Your Own Graduation Invitations

If you don’t have Photoshop you can use pre-made graduation card templates at Zazzle and have them delivered right to your door.

Create your own Graduation invitations for high school seniors. Personalized high school graduation announcements and party invitations.

 

Graduation Card Ideas

High School Graduation Announcements

Custom Photo Graduation High School or College Announcement
Custom Photo Graduation High School or College Announcement
by ndjmom

If you are not having a party then graduation announcements are a perfect way to recognize the success and accomplishment of your high school or college student.

Photoshop Graduation Announcement Templates

Filed Under: Photoshop Friday Tagged With: Adobe Photoshop, free template, graduation, graduation invitations, Graphics, Highschool, Image Editing, Nebraska, Omaha, Photography, Photoshop, senior announcements, seniors

Rivers in Connecticut

February 22, 2013 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Connecticut is where I grew up, however I took the scenery, trees, beaches, rivers and streams for granted. I’ve lived in the Midwest for thirty years and although I love everything about the Nebraska, I do miss the the easy access to water.

In New England the Connecticut River takes center stage. It is the longest river in New England and flows from New Hampshire and empties into Long Island Sound.  It serves as the state boundary between Vermont and New Hampshire and is 407 miles long.

Farmington River in Connecticut
Farmington River in Connecticut in the Winter

Out of the over 50 tributaries of the Connecticut River I spent many summers during high school tubing on the Farmington River.  Even in Connecticut there is white water to navigate to give the challenging adventurer an adrenaline rush. The Farmington River Tubing Company provides a 2.5 miles ride, complete with tubes, lifejackets and a ride back up to your car. Can’t find white water in Nebraska. Tubing in Nebraska is more like a lazy float trip.

I’m spending a few days in Connecticut on family business and thought I would take the opportunity to get some photography in at the same time. Obviously the river in February is a little cold and nope, I’m not going to take the polar plunge and even test the water temperature.

  • Connecticut River and it’s Tributaries
  • The Connecticut River: A Photographic Journey into the Heart of New England (Garnet Books)

Filed Under: Travel Adventures Tagged With: Connecticut, Connecticut River, Farmington River, farmington river tubing, Long Island Sound, nature, Nebraska, new england, New Hampshire, Outdoors, river, summer activities, travel, tubing on the farmington river, Vermont, water

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