The Spirit of America

The song “America The Beautiful” was written by Katharine Lee Bates and the melody by Samuel Ward. Whenever I hear the song, I think about the national parks that dot America’s Landscape. In the rest of the world, magnificence is measured in the form of pyramids, castles, and grand gardens – all built by monarchs and the wealthy to honor themselves. In America our national park system is our grandeur and is owned by the people. This is very difference concept, never heard of in other parts of the world. Currently playing on a PBS station near you is the Ken Burns epoch – The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.

Since the release of the 2010 Farmers’ Almanac, I have referred to the work of Ken Burns in many interviews. I have been excited because I know of his earlier works but, only last night did I begin to see just how wonderful a filmmaker and how powerful a testimonial his work is to America. The first episode took us into the history of how the national parks got started and the champions of the idea. Yosemite was originally gifted to California. Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is America’s first national park. Located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, it is home to a large variety of wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk.

I live in Maine and have visited Arcadia National Park many times. I have not seen what is out west and realize I am not getting any younger. My bucket list now includes these breath-taking parks scattered in the western areas of this country. My take away from this first episode is the fact that the parks create an intimacy in our lives. We share park visits with friends. We are touched on many levels and in a very spiritual way. It becomes a rite of passage between father and child and between generations. There is something uniquely special about parks that remain as pure and protected today as the day you visited as a child.

The Ken Burns series runs for 6 consecutive nights on the Public Broadcasting System. Check local listings for exact times. The National Park system is 84 million acres in size. I would love to hear your take on this special film, and/or the parks you visited and your favorites. Do share with us here.