In the scorching Florida heat of late June 2021, a simple task of picking up a can of paint from Home Depot became an unexpected catalyst for a journey that would intertwine patriotism, self-expression, and a newfound sense of purpose. This is a recounting of the events that led me to create a unique rendition of the national anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance, ultimately reflecting my dedication to my country and my desire to contribute in a meaningful way.
I arrived at Home Depot in my Chevy Van, my initial intention was to pick up a gallon of paint. Looking to hide from the sun, I parked in the contractor parking spots shaded at that time of day. Little did I know that this seemingly ordinary errand would soon be entangled with encounters that would shape my path.
Upon exiting the store with my paint, I found my van surrounded by vehicles, leaving me trapped in a tight space. On one side, a landscaper's truck, pulled across the parking spaces with a huge trailer, adorned with a tattered American flag, was blocking me from getting out of my parking spot. On the other side, a pickup truck poorly parked proudly displayed an assortment of flags, including a Trump flag and a Confederate flag. Some time passed and I was getting a little upset while I waited for the vehicle owners to come out. The first person to appear was a Hispanic landscaper. In broken English, he apologized, but I couldn't help but confront him about the disrespectful state of the tattered American flag. In response to his claim of not speaking English, I pointed out that I had just heard him speaking it moments ago in the store. I asked him to take down the flag and request a new one from his boss. I then asked him if he knew the Pledge of Allegiance, to which he responded with a no.The landscaper's took off, just then the owner of the pickup truck emerged. Typical SOFLO Redneck. I confronted him about his parking job and the inconvenience it had caused me and pointed out his flag collection. Expressing his pride as a "true American," he attempted to recite a version of the Pledge of Allegiance I had never heard before. I thanked him for his patriotism and told him to have a nice day and work on that pledge of allegiance. A few days later, while watching a television program about the national anthem on PBS, I became inspired to learn "The Star-Spangled Banner" myself. As a bass player, I initially attempted to learn it on my instrument, but soon realized I needed a guitar. After finding a suitable Strat on Craigslist, I negotiated the price and bought it. Eager to learn and play the national anthem, I turned to YouTube tutorials. As I began to master the song, I wanted to come up with a more personal rendition. Experimenting with different arrangements, I settled on a version that combined the familiar first verse of the anthem, played in drop D tuning, with the iconic melody similar to "Iron Man" wrapped up with the Pledge of Allegiance.Taking it a step further, I wrote some lyrics with a few Revolutionary War Slogans for the merged composition. The result is a powerful and harmonious blend of national pride and rock 'n' roll energy. Titled "Made in the USA," the song speaks of the stars and stripes, don't tread on me, and the conviction to live free or die. The second verse is an extended version of these sentiments, followed by a drop-down moment where I recited the Pledge of Allegiance. This creative endeavor, born out of a sequence of chance encounters and moments of inspiration, culminated in a unique expression of patriotism. With this musical composition, I aimed to offer fellow Americans a chance to sing along to a reimagined national anthem, while also reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Combining these elements into one cohesive piece, I hoped to foster a sense of unity and pride in our shared identity as Americans. In conclusion, my visit to Home Depot on that June day in 2021 set in motion an unexpected series of events that led me on a path of self-discovery and artistic expression. Through the creation of a personalized rendition of the national anthem, intertwined with the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, I aimed to channel my love for my country and contribute to the fabric of American patriotism. As Walt Salt, I invite you to join me in singing and participating in this patriotic bundle of joy, celebrating the cherished values that define us as Americans. I am Proud to be an American. Walt Salt
Upon exiting the store with my paint, I found my van surrounded by vehicles, leaving me trapped in a tight space. On one side, a landscaper's truck, pulled across the parking spaces with a huge trailer, adorned with a tattered American flag, was blocking me from getting out of my parking spot. On the other side, a pickup truck poorly parked proudly displayed an assortment of flags, including a Trump flag and a Confederate flag. Some time passed and I was getting a little upset while I waited for the vehicle owners to come out. The first person to appear was a Hispanic landscaper. In broken English, he apologized, but I couldn't help but confront him about the disrespectful state of the tattered American flag. In response to his claim of not speaking English, I pointed out that I had just heard him speaking it moments ago in the store. I asked him to take down the flag and request a new one from his boss. I then asked him if he knew the Pledge of Allegiance, to which he responded with a no.The landscaper's took off, just then the owner of the pickup truck emerged. Typical SOFLO Redneck. I confronted him about his parking job and the inconvenience it had caused me and pointed out his flag collection. Expressing his pride as a "true American," he attempted to recite a version of the Pledge of Allegiance I had never heard before. I thanked him for his patriotism and told him to have a nice day and work on that pledge of allegiance. A few days later, while watching a television program about the national anthem on PBS, I became inspired to learn "The Star-Spangled Banner" myself. As a bass player, I initially attempted to learn it on my instrument, but soon realized I needed a guitar. After finding a suitable Strat on Craigslist, I negotiated the price and bought it. Eager to learn and play the national anthem, I turned to YouTube tutorials. As I began to master the song, I wanted to come up with a more personal rendition. Experimenting with different arrangements, I settled on a version that combined the familiar first verse of the anthem, played in drop D tuning, with the iconic melody similar to "Iron Man" wrapped up with the Pledge of Allegiance.Taking it a step further, I wrote some lyrics with a few Revolutionary War Slogans for the merged composition. The result is a powerful and harmonious blend of national pride and rock 'n' roll energy. Titled "Made in the USA," the song speaks of the stars and stripes, don't tread on me, and the conviction to live free or die. The second verse is an extended version of these sentiments, followed by a drop-down moment where I recited the Pledge of Allegiance. This creative endeavor, born out of a sequence of chance encounters and moments of inspiration, culminated in a unique expression of patriotism. With this musical composition, I aimed to offer fellow Americans a chance to sing along to a reimagined national anthem, while also reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Combining these elements into one cohesive piece, I hoped to foster a sense of unity and pride in our shared identity as Americans. In conclusion, my visit to Home Depot on that June day in 2021 set in motion an unexpected series of events that led me on a path of self-discovery and artistic expression. Through the creation of a personalized rendition of the national anthem, intertwined with the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, I aimed to channel my love for my country and contribute to the fabric of American patriotism. As Walt Salt, I invite you to join me in singing and participating in this patriotic bundle of joy, celebrating the cherished values that define us as Americans. I am Proud to be an American. Walt Salt
I am Walt Salt 2076, born in the USA. I’m not the Right Wing and I’m not the Left Wing. I’m the Whole MF Bird…. I Am American.
The way I see it, we are all Americans and part of the same whole. We just need to wake up to the fact that we have been divided by big business, manipulating our politicians and laws to get their way in Washington D.C. That is our real enemy, not each other. I wasn't born on the right or the left, and neither were you. I was born with both perspectives, and I was born free – I aim to keep it that way. You see, if you were born in America, you are family; we are family. We are all brothers and sisters in one great big American family and always have been. We need to start acting that way again and show the world that we are not weak but united and strong, just as we have always been.
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