THE AMERICAN DREAM ALIVE AND WELL IN LOCKRIDGE IOWA, 9/14/2013

A nice analogy to Abraham Lincoln's article in the Iowa Republican can be found in the local Lion's Club's sponsorship of Fun Day 2013 in Lockridge, Iowa. Some have sadly concluded that the American Dream of hard work, honesty, integrity, responsibility and vision with it's reward is dead. My wife and I found it dynamically alive in South Central Iowa's small town of Lockridge. This small town has one of the largest hearts of friendship in Fairfield county. We had on Saturday traveled from a neighboring state to meet dear friends in this quaint but vibrant town. Our friends suggested we meet them for lunch at Fun Day in downtown Lockridge. We noticed on arrival that all volunteers were providing a delightful day for children wanting to raise money for their local fire department and other special needs. When we arrived in down town we noticed the local park was filled with happy children, their parents and grand parents having great fun together as families and friends. We were welcomed by a senior member of the Lion's club and had a Fun Day button attached to our coats. Next we were welcomed by ladies that had baked fresh pies, cakes and brownies for everyone. We witnessed also corn dogs, barbequed pork, snow cones and volunteers working and welcoming one and all everywhere, we were not treated as strangers, but family. Food, table service, and conversation were plentiful and all visitors were quickly welcomed into community, no exclusions. Young farmers, professionals, workers and retirees spent their day having fun and making us part of their conversation circles. No matter that the pies, cakes, food were made by senior guys and gals that probably fought aches and pains to make Fun Day special they were serving others. We are totally convinced after our trip to Lockridge that the American Dream and all it's energy is very much alive in it's people. Our day was made special by all our new friends in Lockridge. We are ready to return to the living American Dream next year. Dr. and Mrs. Alan Phillips