Beyond the Scenery

Park News

     September 2 marks the official end of World War II, corresponding with the day the surrender documents were signed with the nation of Japan 80 years ago. The National Park Service has a website listing several parks with some connection to that conflict, but let me highlight a few:

• Washington, DC’s National Mall has several spots: memorials to Dwight D. Eisenhower, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, all those who served (below), and Japanese American Patriotism
• If you want to know more about the 125,000+ plus Japanese and Japanese Americans who were incarcerated during WWII, go to this page. Several of these former sites are in the Park Service
• At Boston National Historical Park’s Charlestown Navy Yard, the WWII era destroyer USS Cassin Young has free tours throughout the year
• Those who fought the war right here in the U.S. are remembered at California’s Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park. That includes my mom and her parents, who worked at a munitions factory
• The Manhattan Project National Historical Park, relating to the development of the atomic bomb, has three locations: Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Hanford, Washington; and Los Alamos, New Mexico
• Further afield, in the Pacific Ocean, American Memorial Park in the Northern Marianas Islands pays tribute to the U.S. servicemen and native civilians who died in 1944 in the battles on Saipan, Tinian, and the Philippine Sea in 1944. Guam’s War in the Pacific National Historical Park commemorates those who served in that region.
  

More on What’s Happening in the Parks

• Another free day in the national parks! National Public Lands Day is always near the end of September, this year on Saturday, September 27
• Staffing shortages in our parks are a real problem
• This month’s review from the Subpar Parks calendar: “Not much to do” in Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Really? Not according to this list.

Books

This year I joined the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, a professional group for Christian authors and lecturers. A fellow member, DiAnn Mills brings out a new contemporary book this month with Tyndale, Canyon of Deceit.  

The publisher of my two Life Lessons from the National Parks books has released Designs for Nora by Karen H. Richardson on Kindle.

And my e-novella publisher, Pelican Publishing Group, is putting out a pair of new titles in September:

• Love in a Lifeboat (Karen Malley)
• Unchained Melody (Clare Revell)

Wars and more wars

         Sadly, wars are all over the news these days. World War I was called “the war to end all wars,” but as we well know, it wasn’t. Since then, we’ve been involved in several other conflicts, while fighting continues in other places around the globe.

         Luke 21 (as well as other biblical passages) talk about the real “war to end all wars,” that is, when Jesus returns to earth. The events leading up to that occurrence are frightening (false prophets, wars, earthquakes, betrayal by loved ones, and strange phenomena in nature, among other things).

People down through the ages have tried to predict when all of this will take place, or if we’re on the brink of it happening very soon. That’s a futile calculation, though, because Scripture tells us no one but God knows the hour or day (Matthew 24:36). For believers in Christ, though, while humanly distressed, perplexed and fearful when these occurrences transpire, are directed to “straighten up” and “look up,” because all will see Jesus descending from the sky in all His power and glory (v. 25-28). What a sight that will be!

         Since we don’t know when this will come about, Jesus concludes the chapter by cautioning all of us not to be weighed down by life’s worries and concerns, but be on the alert, prepared to stand before Jesus’s judgment (v. 34-36).

         Are you ready?

Fourth of July in our national parks

         Here are just a few happenings:

• The National Park Service always puts on a big show on the National Mall
• Fourth at the Fort is an all-day event at Virginia’s Fort Monroe National Monument
• Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania commemorates the Civil War battle every July 1-3; on the Fourth, rangers present a campfire program on the encounter at the park’s amphitheater
• The American Revolution is the subject of North Carolina’s Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, marking the 249^th anniversary of our country’s independence
• The Boston area played an important part in the Revolutionary War, and at Minute Man National Historical Park, the Declaration of Independence is read aloud at 2:30 p.m. at Concord’s North Bridge, followed by musket volleys; Boston National Historical Park hold an all-day event celebrating the Fourth at Old North Church (feel free to boo and hiss every time King George III is mentioned); on Saturday, July 5, the Longfellow House-Washington Headquarters National Historic Site has a special, five-hour program commemorating the 250^th anniversary of George Washington’s arrival in Cambridge (George and Martha make an appearance!)
• Virginia’s Colonial National Historical Park features family-friendly activities throughout the day, beginning with a parade and ending with fireworks
• Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine holds what it calls an “old-fashioned Fourth," with fife and drum corps, along with cannon and musket firing
• And at the place where the Declaration of Independence was signed, Independence National Historical Park, the Celebration of Freedom includes tours and programs throughout the day.

What else is happening in the parks?

         I’m glad you asked. Check out this pair of articles, from the New York Times (great photos!) and the National Parks Conservation Association.

July’s subpar parks review

         Apparently, somebody thinks Virgin Islands National Park is “totally overrated.” The park takes up two-thirds of the island, with gorgeous beaches, colorful coral reefs, and ancient petroglyphs. Oh well, can’t please everybody…

         Outside Magazine has an article about the worst national parks reviews for 2024. Hmm…someone thinks Redwood National Park should be sold and the trees made into paper?

An old article

         Years ago (as you can tell by my photo in the article), I wrote about a naturalization ceremony I attended, and what it taught me.

A new article

         In the July issue of Prevention magazine, I write about my diagnosis of laryngeal dystonia.

New books

I’ve just joined AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Association), an organization for Christian authors and presenters. Fellow writer Grace Fox is coming out with a new book July 8, Names of God: Knowing Peace. New York Times best-selling author Debbie Macomber endorsed it!

Pelican Publishing Group is releasing two Christian romance titles this month:

• Tracy Wainwright’s Overflowing Hearts (July 11)
• Under the August Sky by Erin Stevenson (July 25)

A Christian Ministry in the National Parks

         ACMNP observes 75 years in the parks in 2025! Over 17,000 team members have led over 100,000 worship services for park visitors and employees. This summer, 140 young people are working at seasonal jobs and conducing services, perhaps at a park you’re visiting!

Citizenship

         If you read my article from USA Today (mentioned above) about attending a naturalization ceremony, you’ll note I was awed by what someone applying for citizenship has to do. Try the civics portion of the test to see how much you know!

         The Bible tells us we have a citizenship awaiting in heaven, the city of God, for eternity (Philippians 3:20, Hebrews 12:22). Becoming a citizen there is much easier, no test required, because Jesus took it on our behalf and passed with flying colors: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, those whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).