Bear Taylor 
On 4 July 1970 our nation was divided into two camps. Hawks who supported the war in Vietnam. and Doves who did not. Two historic events occurred in the months before Independence Day 1970 that increased the tension between the two camps. President Nixon had extended the bombing in Southeast Asia to include the North Vietnamese sanctuaries in Cambodia, and the Ohio National Guard fired on and killed four war protesters on the campus of Kent State University. In an attempt to draw the nation together during this crisis the President directed that a “HONOR AMERICA DAY” celebration be held on the National Mall and the steps of the Lincoln Monument on 4 July 1970. As Bob Hope, one of the organizers of the rally said: “Americans can put aside their honest differences and rally around the flag to show national unity.” Nothing was said about the war, but that didn’t matter. Both sides attended the event—one crowd estimate was put at 400,000—making the day one for the history books. The all day event included great patriotic music, insprirational words and stage entertainment, as well as thousands of protesters wading in the Mall Reflection Basin, etc. Everybody did not get Bob Hope’s message.
ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED readers are enjoined to read about the event and listen to the extraordinary 4th of July 1970 program produced by Reverend Billy Graham and comedian Bob Hope. One highlight: Kate Smith was there to sing “God Bless America.”
Read, watch and listen to PROUDLY THEY CAME TO HONOR AMERICA …
https://www.history.com/news/richard-nixon-honor-america-day-july-4-1970
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tMWb5X1K79k
From the Bear’s Cave on Mount Ogden to all who come this way… Have a great Independence Day pursuing the good life, the liberties we enjoy as Americans, and bountiful happiness… God Bless America… Bear Taylor
