EDITORIAL -- FEATURE SPOT, Editorials, Opinion
 By  Staff Reports Published 
3:25 pm Thursday, June 23, 2022

In praise of patriotism

With summer in full swing, we are also firmly in the middle of the most patriotic time of the year.

Memorial Day and Flag Day are barely in the rearview, and Independence Day is looming large on the horizon.

If you haven’t unfurled your flag, strung up the bunting or purchased fireworks yet – well, now is the time! We are loving seeing the county draped in red, white and blue.

Amidst the pool parties and cookouts, lake days and camping trips, we hope you’ll also make time to take pride in our country and honor everything it has taken to bring us to this point.

Does our country have problems? Undoubtedly. No matter where you stand on divisive topics from the economy to poverty to the environment and beyond, the U.S. has certainly not reached the very pinnacle of what it could hope to be someday.

What is also undoubtedly true, however, is that we live in a great country, filled with blessings and assets that people in many countries can only dream of. Despite the negatives, we have so many positives we can be proud of.

Even as we deal with problems like illiteracy, food insecurity, crime, hate, inflation, broken homes and more – let’s be honest with ourselves, we do have problems – we also see the innumerable benefits of living in the great U.S. of A. We have amazing freedoms, amazing opportunities, amazing prosperity.

O beautiful for spacious skies. For amber waves of grain. For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain. America! America! God shed his grace on thee!

Splendid words, for a splendid country.

Let’s not forget to embrace a patriotic spirit this summer.

Also on Franklin County Times
Warming stations in the Shoals
News, Z - News Main
By Addi Broadfoot For the FCT 
January 23, 2026
FLORENCE — Several warming centers and emergency shelters are operating across Lauderdale, Colbert and Franklin counties in preparation for freezing t...
What to know about hypothermia
News, Z - News Main
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
January 23, 2026
FLORENCE — While Colbert, Franklin and Lauderdale counties are facing a ice storm warning starting at midnight, several homes and residents may lose p...
Sheriff: Contraband is constant battle in jails
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
January 21, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver said the county jail is not immune to the problem jail officials everywhere face: Inmates coming...
Oliver, Shackelford qualify for sheriff
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
January 21, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE – Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver will have to hit the campaign trail to seek a fifth term this year. Oliver, a Republican and Fra...
New welding shop a plus for students
Franklin County, Main, News, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 21, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — A new welding shop inside the Russellville High School’s remodeled career tech building offers students more time and space to learn th...
Vina seniors tour NWSCC campuses
News, Vina Red Devils
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
January 21, 2026
VINA — Vina High School seniors toured the Phil Campbell and Muscle Shoals campuses of Northwest Shoals Community College as part of career planning a...
Can the US solve its electricity crisis?
Columnists, Opinion
January 21, 2026
As America embraces a new year 2026, consumers are looking for relief from an ongoing “affordability crisis.” While prices for some key items have mer...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *