Approval and

The kitchen in our tenement was large, but on that night, Dec 7, 1941, it was crowded.

We sat in a semi circle. Ellen and I squeezed together on one of the yellow kitchen chairs as we listened to our President describe the indelible moment in time as a Day of Infamy.

A small radio was perched on top of the refrigerator but FDR’s words were clear and precise.

Aunt Helen and Uncle Bill King, Mom’s brother and sister (who lived upstairs with Pop King, my grandfather) had joined us. I wondered why since I knew they owned a radio.

Years later I realized they simply did not wish to be alone listening to our President declare America was at war. They both probably remembered the earlier one, when all five King brothers donned uniforms and joined the battle. Mom always said that was when her Mother’s illness began.

Bill King, a veteran of WWI, served in France as an infantryman. For the remainder of his life, he would carry not only the scars from being gassed during his time in battle, but a deep loneliness hidden under the shield of sarcasm. My gentle Uncle was a pacifist having known the horror of the battlefield. And he was no fan of FDR.

My Dad and Uncle often had frequent and loud political disagreements in our kitchen, but not that night, It was different.

We sat quietly in a semi circle in the tenement kitchen. The whole world seemed silent as we listened to the leader elected by the people speak the words that changed history.

Indeed that was a long time ago.

Now Ellen and I are the only ones left to share any memories.

Yesterday as another President, elected by the people, spoke words that will also change history, my sister and I remembered the cold night in 1941.

And recalled there was both approval and dissent from those who listened while he spoke.

Still I choose to believe there was agreement both in 1941 and again last night to the words:

“ God Bless America, land of the free, home of the brave.”

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