Dream Weaving in North Plainfield, New Jersey: A Face of America Magic Moment

By Tony Mussari
Copyright 2010
The Face of America Project
Mussari-Loftus Associates, LTD
Photographs of World War II courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

I’ve just closed my eyes again
Climbed aboard the dream weaver train
Driver take away my worries of today
And leave tomorrow behind
                                              Gary Wright

The Seeds of our face of America project were planted at the 20 yard line during a high school football game in North Plainfield, NJ.

It was a cold, October evening in a place Kitch and I had never been before.  It was our first visit to a place that would become our second home. It was an experience we never expected, and one we will never forget.

Watching the cheerleaders on the sidelines, the football players on the field and the students and their parents in the stands through the viewfinder of my camera, I saw an image that spoke to my head and my heart.  The message was simple, direct and oh, so beautiful. 

These youngsters and thousands like them all over the country will determine what America will become in the next 20 years.    It was a hopeful image, an inspirational image, a refreshing image of cooperation, teamwork, dreams and joy. It was a portrait of diversity at its very best.

I was watching the face of America tomorrow, today.

It was a compelling and powerful image. It made me want to look deeper into the heart and soul of this school, and the people who call it home. I have been doing just that for the past seven months, and it has been one of the best experiences of my life.

This week I returned to North Plainfield without my video camera.  For most of the morning, I was a teacher again working with the students in Mary Beth Windsor’s social studies class.  These students are bright, eager, genuine, and attentive.  There is an earnestness and a refreshing goodness about them. They are genuine. I like them.  I feel good around them.  I want to help them in any way I can.

On this Wednesday morning, we talked about the Battle of Kasserine Pass. I wanted them to know that the first major battle of World War II was a significant failure for the allies, 10,000 casualties, and more than 2,000 deaths.  It was a metaphor for the war and a metaphor for life.  

The loss caused General Dwight Eisenhower to reassess everything about his command structure.  It paved the way for the emergence of leaders like Omar Bradley and George Patton, and it provided a little known journalist from Indiana, Ernie Pyle, with the raw material he needed to develop the image that is most associated with the Army in this Great War, GI Joe.

In another attempt to discuss failure as an important part of the journey to success, I introduced the students to Greg Mortenson and the first chapter in his book, Three Cups of Tea.  This is a book about a war that is much different from the one my uncles fought. The first chapter is about failure, and yes, it enabled me to introduce two quotations that were spawned during World War II:

“Success is not final, Failure is not fatal. It’s the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill

“If a man does his best what else is there.” General George Patton.

Unfortunately, the generals commanding their troops at Kasserine in 1942 did not do their best.  We were not adequately prepared or equipped to take on Field Marshall Rommel and win.

Fortunately, we had a Supreme Allied Commander like General Eisenhower who applied Henry’s Ford’s famous quotation to learn the lessons of Kasserine and make sure they were not repeated:

“Failure is simply an opportunity to begin again more intelligently.”

The last part of the class was devoted to an exercise about hopes and dreams.  I like to do this whenever I have an opportunity to work with students.

For me, “Dream Weaving” is a simple and direct set of three questions that are presented in a nonthreatening way to students who are willing to participate and take ownership of their hopes and dreams.  It is designed to get students thinking about the thousands of tomorrows they will face after high school and the challenges and opportunities that will come with every step they take.  It is an attempt to concretize the words of Walt Disney:

“If you can dream it, you can do it.”

On this day, the “Dream Weaving” exercise was so successful I asked the students to record their thoughts on paper before they left the classroom.  Here are some of their responses:

“I dream of becoming a forensic psychiatrist. I want to inspire and help others.”

“I want to become a psychologist because I want to help others overcome their struggles.”

“I hope to have a big family with a caring and loving husband. I dream to become a registered nurse. I adore babies and hope to work in the maternity section.”  

“My dream is to successfully complete high school and to go to a good college…I want to become a physician’s assistant.”

“I dream of becoming a soccer player, and maybe one day in the future I can help others achieve their goals and also support the poor.  I have many fears, but I always keep my head up and trust God.”

“I dream to become a game designer.  I fear that I will not take it seriously. What I think I should do is adjust my attitude.”

“I dream of becoming a nurse. I worry about being accepted. I worry about having the money to pay for college.”

“My dream is to be a firefighter.  I would love to play college football if given the chance…I am going to stay healthy, safe and do well in school.”

“I hope to become an architect. I will succeed…if I try my hardest and not give up. I will not let anything come in my way.”

“I hope to become a doctor’s assistant…to graduate from high school…to achieve without failing. I will work hard… find help when I know I need it…always do my best and believe in myself.”

“My hope it to succeed in becoming an art therapist for children. I want to help them express the things that they can’t…I know that college and graduating will be a challenge for me, but it is a challenge I am willing to accept and beat to get towards my dream.”

“My dream is to become a fashion therapist. My fear is people not believing in me.”

“I would like to be a mechanical engineer.  I fear that I might not be able to afford college and not go into what I enjoy doing.”

“I dream of becoming a video game programmer. I worry about getting the money to go to college.”

 “I dream of becoming a social worker. I worry that it might get too hard to achieve what I need to in order to become a social worker.”

“My hopes and dreams are to open up my own car shop. I want to have a great family and provide my kids with everything they want.”

“I want to raise $100.00 to donate to the animal shelter.  I want to be a speed skater.  I want to be an ASL translator. I want to be a special Ed teacher. I want to go and find my family.”

“I want to become a social worker.  I fear that I won’t be a good man…I won’t finish high school…I won’t go to college…I fear of being like the rest.”

Two students did not have a specific dream, but the words they used to describe their dreams touched my heart in a special way.

“I hope to make a difference and help people succeed in life.“

“I want to make all those who helped me proud and give back to them….I want to make the people who were there for me proud.”

If ever there was a blueprint of what America can be on its best days, this is it. The dreams of our children will determine what our country will be in the next generation.  If the dreams of these students come true, we are going to be just fine, thank you.

Gary Wright was right: “Dreams can get us through the night. Dreams can help us reach the morning light.”

To paraphrase a famous line from a famous teacher:

“There’s more to education than notes on a page. It’s all about dreaming, and the discipline, sacrifice and work to make dreams become realities.”

Thank You, Mary Beth Windsor.

Thank You, Skip Pulcrano.

Thank You, beautiful Faces of America, I hope that all your dreams come true.

Until the next time, Kitch and I hope that all your stories have happy endings.

Please provide feedback to:
tmussari@gmail.com

Greg Mortenson: A Face of America Commentary

By Tony Mussari
Copyright 2010
The Face of America Project
Mussari-Loftus Associates, LTD

The seats in the Kirby Theater are empty. The room is dark, the books, pictures, graphics and all the other external trappings of Greg Mortenson’s visit are packed away. The letters on the marquis announce another event, but the memory of this magical moment will forever be recorded in the hearts and souls of the 1,800 people who filled the Kirby Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday last.

Among those memories are ten statements and five quotations that, if applied, can change our world for the better:

1. Use books not bullets to bring peace to our world;

2. Harness the power in the wisdom of grandparents and elders;

   

3. Get youngsters unplugged from their digital devices;

4. Get youngsters into playgrounds with their friends where they can be children again;

5. Harness the power of a penny;

6. Understand that when girls are educated they build communities;

7. Don’t be afraid to fail;

8. Trust and believe that our children will make a difference in the world for the good of humanity;

9. Celebrate our constitutional right to happiness, and export it throughout the world;

10.  Listen more, have respect and build relationships.

On the dark days of adversity and challenge, when nothing seems to work, remember these quotations that kept this passionate man moving forward:

‘When it is dark, you can see the stars.”

“The greatness of America is in its diversity.”

“People can be empowered to control their own destiny.”

‘There is a big difference between helping and empowering.”

“You cannot plug in democracy in a country like Afghanistan; you must build it with the help of elders and the education of children.”

Greg Mortenson has been celebrated in many ways with many different words of praise, but nowhere have I found the word that in my mind’s eye best describes this good and decent man from Montana, this force for change, this living monument to determination, this giver of the gift of hope, this builder of schools for the dispossessed, this beautiful Face of America.

I watched him carefully before, during and after dinner at Wilkes University. I listened intently to his words at the 29th Annual Max Rosen Lecture Series in Law and Humanities, and I took copious notes during his presentation at the Kirby.

For me, the word that best describes Greg Mortenson is teacher.

Teacher in the academic sense, we are all his students.

Teacher in the human sense, he fills our hearts with hope.

Teacher in the biblical sense, he sanctifies the places he visits with the good news of education, enlightenment, equality and enrichment.

If you spend an evening with Greg Mortenson, you can not help but become a better person, a more thoughtful person, a better citizen of the world and a better American.

The price of admission to Mortenson’s classroom is a caring heart.

The consequence of participating in his classroom is a belief that tomorrow can be better than today.

The benefit of implementing what he teaches is peace and progress for everyone.

It doesn’t get any better than that in any classroom anywhere in the world.

I saw the face of America today. It belongs to a big man, with a big heart who is not afraid to go where his heart leads him.

May your journey continue. May your dreams be fulfilled, and may we realize that you are doing more than building schools in some of the most remote and dangerous neighborhoods on this planet.

You and your work give witness to the heart and soul of America on its very best days. 

Please provide feedback to:
tmussari@gmail.com

Battlefield: A Face of America Commentary

By Tony Mussari
Copyright 2010
The Face of America Project
Mussari-Loftus Associates, LTD

I saw the face of America today in place that will always be forever young, forever sacred and forever a bridge from America’s past to America’s future.

I saw the face of America today in a place that was born and raised in the blood of men who believed in their cause.

I saw the face of America today in a place that compels people to think about matters that most would like to forget.

I saw the face of America today on the rich country fields that captured the attention of a nation at war with itself for three of the longest days in our history.

It was a battle of contradictions, complications, complacencies and consequences that filled this place with heroic men performing heroic deeds on a scale larger than anyone had ever seen in this country.  On both sides of the line, they did it with valor.  They did it with honor. They did it with reckless abandon for themselves.

For this time and place the numbers were staggering: 160,000 men in arms; 51,000 casualties. A mark that even to this day is shocking and significant beyond measure. It forces one to remember the brutality of war so aptly described by one of the legendary commanders of this place.

We are never quite prepared for so many to die…we are prepared to lose some of us, but we are never prepared to lose all of us. And there is the great trap… When you attack, you must hold nothing back. You must commit yourself totally. We are adrift here in a sea of blood and I want it to end. I want this to be the final battle.  General Robert E. Lee

In this place of dignity and honor, towering reminders of this war and its combatants reach up to the heavens singing praise for those who produced the unforgettable sights and sounds of this historic place.

In quiet moments of reflection, the words that sanctified this place are carried by the gentle winds of spring directly to one’s heart:

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us- that from the honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth. President Abraham Lincoln

I saw the face of America today in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  I saw it in the faces of the visitors who came to connect with the past.  I saw it in the monuments that reach up to the heavens asking for perspective. I felt it in the reverent silence that creates a climate of peace, understanding and reconciliation.  

What I experienced here in this place of honor on a beautiful April afternoon, I will carry with me for all the Aprils that will follow, because once you visit Gettysburg you never go home the same.

General Robert E. Lee was right: To be a good soldier you must love the army. To be a good commander you must be able to order the death of the thing you love.

Please provide feedback to:
tmussari@gmail.com

Tom McGrath: A Man Who Gives Friendship a Good Name

By Tony Mussari

Photographs By Kitch Loftus Mussari & Sean McGrath

Copyright 2010
The Face of America Project
Mussari-Loftus Associates, LTD

A faithful friend is the medicine of life. Apocrypha

Some friendships define who we are and why we are the way we are. If you are fortunate, you make these friendships early in life, and they stand the test of time.

When I was a teenager in the 1950’s, I met a man who left a permanent imprint on my soul.  He was our neighbor and a friend of my father.  In the springtime of my life, he
taught me things I would treasure for the rest of my life. From him I learned the gift of conversation, and the importance of values like kindness, thoughtfulness, loyalty, humor and compassion.

In the summer of my life, I watched him raise five children in the house across the street.  It was a beautiful thing to see him and his wife nurture and guide these children through the shoals of life.

In our neighborhood, doors were always open, and everyone was a member of the family.  There were no walls of contention and misunderstanding because we were bound together with common hopes and dreams.  Everyone played together, prayed together, went to school together.  In a very real way we gave one another a special feeling of community, safety and security.

Now, in the winter of my years, my friend during all the seasons of my life is about to have surgery of a complicated kind.  His faith is as strong as ever. His heart is as open as ever, and his determination is a resolute as ever.

In our conversations of yesterday, he taught me how to be a man. 

In our conversation of today, he taught me how to be a courageous and peaceful man.  His voice was weak, but the sounds of friends and family in the background did not force him to rush the conversation or distract him from what he wanted to say. His words were strong, meaningful and filled with the characteristic goodness of his giving heart.  There were no complaints, just thoughtful explanations:

“If you hang long enough with anything, you get used to it.”

“It is the little things like this telephone call that are important in life.”

“Fame and fortune don’t mean anything unless you do something for someone else.”

“Success is about compassion.”

“My legacy is my children and my grandchildren.”

“Friendships like the one I had with your dad are priceless.  It is above and beyond everything.”

Everyone should have a friend like Tom McGrath: a friend who sees the brighter side of life; a friend who sees the bigger side of life; a friend who represents the best things in life; a friend who never disappoints; a friend who always fills your heart with hope; a friend who always makes you believe that tomorrow will be better than today.

When I was a youngster, I paid attention to my father’s friend. Throughout my life he made me believe that yesterday’s dreams would become tomorrow’s reality. He did it again during our conversation with these words:

“Keep passing on to the world what you possess.”

On this tomorrow, my prayers will be for Tom McGrath and his recovery because without him in the neighborhood of my life there will be emptiness that words cannot describe.

Kevin Arnold was right:

All our young lives we search for someone to love, someone who makes us complete. We choose partners and change partners. We dance to a song of heartbreak and hope, all the while wondering if somewhere and somehow there is someone searching for us."

During my young life and during all the years that followed, I was fortunate to have the friendship and example of Tom McGrath, and that made all the difference.

In every way that matters, Tom McGrath, father, grandfather, neighbor and friend, is a Face of America on its very best days.

Please provide feedback to:
tmussari@gmail.com

At Home for Easter with Gratitude and Humility

By Tony Mussari

Photographs By Kitch Loftus-Mussari

If people cannot love one another and understand one another, there is no hope.  

Stephanie Fitzgerald

It was shortly after 3:30 p.m., when we parked the car in front of our home in Windsor Park.  The trip odometer recorded 8,590 miles. The calendar told us we were on the road for five weeks. Our trip map of the United States displayed 23 highlighted states. Our portable drive had 110 folders archiving 18,000 digital pictures. These are important numbers to be sure, but there was something that was far more important to us.  We were home, and our hearts were full of gratitude and humility.

During this phase of our Face of America journey, we met people who were kind. We saw things that were beautiful. We experienced moments that were inspirational, and we recorded memories that we will never forget.

At the moment, we are still trying to process everything.  It took us two days to unpack the car, and less than two hours to get into the garden to begin spring cleanup.

This morning, Kitch sorted through 153 pieces of mail we received while we were on the road.

While Kitch worked upstairs, I sat in my editing room previewing scenes from our visit to Point Lookout, Missouri, Little America, Wyoming, Wallace, Idaho, Salt lake City, Utah, and Seattle, Washington.

The sights and sounds of the 80 member chorus of the College of the Ozarks singing American Anthem and Stephanie Fitzgerald singing America the Beautiful brought tears to my eyes.

Listening to the people we met in Little America, Wyoming, reminded me of the goodness and helpfulness of the American people.
Returning to Wallace, Idaho,  was a very happy moment. I was able to listen to the thoughtful and wise words of Jamie Baker

The footage from Salt Lake City celebrating ten beautiful faces that represented America at the Vancouver Olympics was a classic Face of America moment made possible by the kindness and friendship of Paul Swenson.

Throughout this trip we were reunited with students who once sat in our classrooms. In a suburb of Seattle, we visited an animal rescue shelter that is staffed by a group of volunteers that included a former student, Dawn Gerken and her mother, Marie.

Our reunion at the shelter in Kent Station had special significance for us. The people who work there give testimony to one of the fundamental characteristics of America, volunteerism. They are an important part of our story, and we will be writing about them and their work in the days ahead.

This summer, Dawn and her mother will visit Windsor Park.

This afternoon, one of our neighbors and a good friend, Terry Evans, stopped his car in front of the garden. In his characteristically positive and supportive way he spoke 23 words that touched my heart in a very special way: Welcome home.  You have done something that most Americans dream about, but never accomplish. Congratulations and thanks for sharing the journey with us.

A friend from my days at St. Mary’s High School, Joe DeVizia, wrote these encouraging words: Tony and Kitch, your journey should be developed into a book.

From Stephanie Fitzgerald’s mother, we received these kind words: Stephanie was very proud to be a part of your project.  I will continue to follow your adventures through your blog.  It gives me hope for the future.

When we opened the mail, a note from Julie Marvel, the woman who gave us the reason to make this trip, put everything into perspective. It read: Welcome Home…Thanks for sharing your journey with me, my family and my students. We are all better because of it.

We are home, and in a very real way we are refreshed, renewed and reborn. In so many ways, we will never be the same. We are more aware of the incredible beauty of our country, the friendliness of its people, the way it is perceived by individuals from all walks of life, the hopes and dreams of Americans who are young, old, rich, poor and everything in between.

We have learned powerful, life changing lessons in humility. We have experienced the goodness and kindness of Americans in every state we visited.

From the 20 year old heart of Stephanie Fitzgerald, we received a great gift, an Easter gift. It was presented with honesty and integrity in 14 words: If people cannot love one another and understand one another, there is no hope.

  
After five weeks on the road, it all comes down to that, and those words best describe what is in our hearts as we celebrate Easter 2010.

We are convinced that the America of tomorrow will be better than the America of today, if we can apply Stephanie’s dictum to every aspect of our lives.

In our opinion, that will only happen when our hearts are filled with a spirit that is best described by Thomas Merton:

 “Our real journey in life is interior:
it is a matter of growth, deepening,
and of an ever greater surrender to the creative action of
love and grace in our hearts."

“Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real”

“The grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference."

Until the next time, we hope that all of your stories have happy endings.

Please provide feedback to: tmussari@gmail.com

Searching for the Face of America in The Heartland: Point Lookout, Missouri

By Tony Mussari

Photographs By Kitch Loftus Mussari

I do not believe there is a problem in this country or the world today which could not be settled if approached through the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount.    Harry S. Truman

My journey to the College of the Ozarks began in my grandmother’s kitchen more than 60 years ago. I don’t remember the date, but I do remember the event.  My uncles were reminiscing about their experiences in World War 2. They did not say much about the gore of the war or the battles that left permanent marks on their souls, but they did something that made a permanent impression on me. 

When we were around, they were quick to show us the artifacts of war. I loved the brass buttons and the uniform patches. I was fascinated by the chevrons and the lapel pins.

All these years later, the little boy who worshipped these men is a retired teacher and a grandfather in the twilight of his years.  His search for the Face of America took him to the College of the Ozarks, the epicenter of an innovative program that brings college students and World War II veterans together for international travel to battlefields where the teenagers of the 1940s literally saved the world.

In sacred places like Normandy, Anzio, Iwo Jima and so many others, 16 million men and women earned the title The Greatest Generation. 310,979 earned it by dying for their country. 672,377 earned it by being injured in battle, and 12,780 earned it by being declared missing in action.   

My wife and I came to Point Lookout, Missouri, to talk with students about their experiences with the last remaining survivors of this war. We wanted to know what they learned about the war, the men who fought it, and its importance, if any, in this time and place.  We wanted to know what they learned about themselves and their country.

During our visit, we talked with five students who accompanied World War II veterans to European and Pacific battlefields, and five students who were involved in other activities sponsored by a college that is determined to provide an education of the head, heart and hands.

The College of the Ozarks is a faith-based school.  The animating spirit of this campus is best summarized in 17 words from Colossians: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men.”

Our experience here was pleasant, positive, productive and profound.

Our conversation began with a business major, Riley Webb, who explained the unique circumstance that brought him to Hard Work U. as it is known here. Riley works 15 hours a week in the security office at the entrance to the campus.  Like all of the students here he works one full week each semester. He pays for his books, but he does not pay any tuition.

It’s a formula for success.  This year, the College of the Ozarks has received 5,000 applicants for 300 positions in the 2011 freshman class. That’s an impressive statistic by any standard.

Jamie Jernigan is a senior majoring in information systems. She helped us to better understand the five core values of the college: Academic, Vocational, Christian, Patriotic and Cultural. Jamie participated in one of the battlefield trips sponsored by the college and the Greatest Generation Foundation. She called it the most important learning moment of her college career. It helped her to better understand the significance of what these men did. It humbled her to be in their presence.

Jamie hopes that her love for WWII veterans “will inspire more people to think more about patriotism.”

Ashlyn Moore is a sophomore.  She works in the public relations office. Ashlyn went to the 65th anniversary celebration at Normandy. During the trip, she recorded her thoughts in a blog. During our visit, she talked about the lasting impact of her experience. For Ashlyn Moore, it was a life-changing experience. It was an opportunity to develop a better understanding of words like freedom, patriotism, courage, honor and sacrifice for country.  For the rest of her life, she intends to tell the story of June 4, 1944, and the 10 veterans who helped her to understand the significance of that day.

Blake DeHaan is a senior.  He is a thoughtful and very polished young man. There is honesty and integrity in his eyes. He wants to become a law enforcement officer.

Blake went to Normandy with a suitcase filled with questions about the war and the things that happened during the largest battle ever fought.  He came home with a briefcase filled with memorabilia that he will treasure for the rest of his life.  

After our conversation, he carefully removed each item and he displayed them on a couch in the lobby of the Keeter Center. It was a moment of honor, respect and admiration. Before we parted, this impressive young man took me to a gallery of pictures on the main floor of the Keeter Center, and he showed me the priceless picture that was taken on the famous beach at Normandy with his veteran.

Lukas Mathews is a chemistry major.  He went to Iwo Jima. For this young man who wants to become a doctor, the trip made him much more aware of the horrible things that happen in war. It helped him to develop a sense of compassion for the men who fought in the South Pacific. It also gave him a much better appreciation of the human cost of war. This is something he now knows in a very personal way. His brother was recently deployed to the Middle East.  For the rest of his life, he will remember these two events, and they will give him perspective.

In the years ahead, this very special young man will become a medical doctor.  He will heal the sick and care for the suffering. He will also honor his responsibility to keep the story of the Greatest Generation alive and well.

On a special evening in one of the newest buildings on campus, students who had been selected to go on future patriotic trips came together to hear Rebecca Wright talk about her experience. Watching Rebecca through the viewfinder of my camera, I saw a young woman with poise, grace and natural leadership skills. Rebecca was well organized and very effective as she took her audience through all of the steps of the journey they would take.  

During the question and answer period, I waited for the appropriate moment, and then I asked Rebecca three questions that enabled her to address the issues in our Face of America project. She responded in a heartfelt way that touched my heart and produced this response, “Rebecca, you are indeed a genuine Face of America.”

As Kitch and I were leaving the orientation session, a sign in a classroom on the second floor caught my attention. The 11 letters spelled a word that was prominently displayed on a classroom wall 1,200 miles east of this place.  It read FLEXIBILITY. It produced memories of another time, another place, another classroom and another faith-based college, King’s College, that I called home for 37 years. It was an ironic and precious moment.

At Sunday service in a packed Gothic cathedral that towers over this campus, Kitch and I learned about two spring break service trips: a mission trip to a Navajo Indian reservation in New Mexico and a trip the 80-member chorus took to Washington, Philadelphia and New York City.  The students who talked about these experiences were articulate, compelling and very impressive.

After a thoughtful sermon by Daniel K. Chinn about the importance of humility in the Christian tradition, and a powerful and poignant presentation by worship leader and chorus director Gregg Bush I could feel the canvas of this visit changing. I wanted to learn more about these students and what they experienced. In the days ahead, I would get an opportunity to do just that.

It was our good fortune to meet a gracious and talented junior, Stephanie Fitzgerald, who sat with us in the shadow of Williams Memorial Chapel to tell her story of renewal and transformation as she sang “America the Beautiful” on the lawn of the US Capitol in Washington, and at St Paul’s Church in lower Manhattan adjacent to Ground Zero.

Stephanie wants to be a music teacher and a performer.  She has a voice that is absolutely beautiful, and a personality that is welcoming, kind and generous. Stephanie, Kitch and I had an instant connection.  She shared her enormous talent with us and she connected us with the college chorus for a moment that we will never forget.

Stephanie is a young woman who represents her family and her college with dignity and class. She will be an excellent teacher.

Elske Oldeboer is an exchange student from Holland.  She is studying public relations and marketing. We met Elske at lunch in the student dining room. Kitch was drawn to Elske. She found her to be a bright, charming, sophisticated young woman.

Elske accepted our invitation to become a part of our project, and we were the beneficiaries of her insights about America.  During her interview, she helped us to better understand how our country and our people are seen in Europe. She also helped u to frame a question that would become central to other interviews.
 
During her stay at the College of the Ozarks, Elske has learned much about America. Her story is positive and it is filled with interesting insights.

Hannah Ramsey is studying to become a nurse. After a few moments in her presence, I knew she would be an excellent nurse.  Hannah is positive and thoughtful.  She is a very caring person, and she has an appreciation for the wonderful opportunities she has been given at the College of the Ozarks.

Hannah is a natural conversationalist, and she makes one feel very comfortable no matter what the setting.  In my opinion, she personifies the spirit and then purpose of this college. She is faith-based person, a welcoming person, an industrious person, a well educated person and a patriotic person.

Like all of the students we met, Hannah is a genuine person. There are no hidden agendas.  It’s all sincerity, all integrity, and all willingness to help.

At the College of the Ozarks, the vision is clear and purposeful. From the office of the president to the office of the restaurant manager, the goal is to develop citizens of Christ-like character who are well educated, hardworking and patriotic.

We came to Point Lookout, Missouri, with three objectives. We wanted to meet Dr. Fred Mullinax. We wanted to interview students in his special program for veterans. We wanted to present the National 9/11 Remembrance Flag  to Dr. Jerry Davis.  We leave this special place today with memories that are rich and inspirational, sounds from a chorus that will fill our hearts and minds with positive emotions, friendships that will endure, and a portrait of the Face of America that is practically perfect in every way.

As I drive our Prius along Opportunity Way 16 words from a quotation will be playing against the melody of An American Anthem: “How lucky I am to have known someone who was so hard to say god-bye to.”

President Harry Truman was right. “It is understanding that gives us the ability to have peace.”

Until the next time, we hope that all of your stories have happy endings.

Please keep us in your prayers and always know of our gratitude for your help, kindness and support.

Please provide feedback to:
tmussari@gmail.com

Moving East: The Magic of our Face of America Journey Continues

By Tony Mussari

Photographs By Kitch Loftus Mussari

In the past week, Kitch and I have been temporary residents of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. Driving through each of these states, we were mesmerized by the breathtaking beauty of the mountains, the forests and the Plains.  Wherever we went, we snapped hundreds of pictures of towering snow-capped mountains and picturesque valleys that stretch as far as the eye can see. Around every bend in the road, we found scenes that demanded our attention and images that radiated positive energy. The natural beauty of these states is awesome, captivating and majestic.

As we drove through the mountain passes, we thought about the courage and determination of the pioneers who crossed these mountains without benefit of the modern luxuries we enjoy.   

In Washington, we had a reunion with a former student, Dawn Gerken, at an animal shelter in Kent Station.

In Idaho, we spent an afternoon in Wallace. This quaint silver mining town of fewer than 1,000 people is a poster child for historical preservation.  Recently it was selected as one of the coolest small towns in America.  We had lunch at the Red Light Garage and we spent time with one of the architects of the town’s revitalization, Jamie Baker.

In Montana, we were mesmerized by the breathtaking beauty of the mountains. It’s hard to describe the feeling one gets when you realize that  Sacagawa led the Lewis and Clark Expedition through the Bozeman Pass with much more primitive equipment than our air conditioned and heated Prius. Again and again we talked about the courage, determination and accomplishments of the men and women who crossed these mountains during the infancy of our country.

In Utah, we had a wonderful reunion with Paul Swenson and the people who work at Colonial Flag.  Thanks to Paul’s friendship and kindness we had an unbelievable experience with 10 Olympians who gave America moments we will never forget at the Vancouver Olympics. It was a moment of patriotism and pride like no other we experienced on our journey.

In Wyoming, we were stranded by a horrible accident that closed Interstate 80 for 100 miles and swelled the population of a town appropriately named Little America. There we took advantage of a very bad situation, and we met men and women who live on the road as it were. These are the people who drive the big rigs. They provided us with an interesting insight into an essential part of our nation and its commerce. These are hearty, genuine people who speak their minds clearly and with conviction.

In Nebraska, we spent the night in North Platte.  Before we left, we visited Fort Cody. Then, we followed the route of the Pony Express. In Gothenburg, we visited a town that celebrates the heroism of the men who carried the mail to stations across the west from St. Joseph, Missouri, to San Francisco, California. It was another humbling moment as we thought about what they sacrificed to get the mail to the Pacific coast in ten days.

Today we are in Missouri at the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout. This is a school known as Hard Work U. This is a school where opportunity, patriotism and spirituality meet. It is place where the values of the college are prominently displayed in one of the most impressive buildings on the campus, The Keeter Center for Character Education.

In a way, we traveled 7,000 miles to get here. In point of fact, we drove the longest distance of the trip to get here, approximately 690 miles in one day. It’s not what I promised my cardiologist, Dr. Joseph Briskie, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

As of this afternoon, we have met a number of very impressive students. We interviewed Riley Webb, and we have arranged an interview with Stephanie Fitzgerald. Every student at this college works for the college 15 hours a week and one full week during each semester.  In return, the student pays no tuition.

When I asked Ian Sousan at the Summer Winds Resort Services Information Center at Main and Commerce in downtown Branson what he thought about Hard Work U, he was unequivocal in his praise.  It is a wonderful school, he told us, and we are proud to have it here. It represents all the right things.

We have a lot more to do here at the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, and we will be writing about it in the days ahead.

For those who like statistics, these are the numbers:

We have been on the road for 28 days. We have driven 7,121 miles. We have snapped 10,000 digital pictures and we have visited 21 states.

Recently, someone asked me how I would describe what we are seeing. I replied: “America you are Big, Beautiful, Bold, Bountiful, and Benevolent.  Everywhere we go, we meet good people, caring people, kind people who are willing to help us. Everywhere we go we are amazed by the size of the country, the natural beauty of the country, the heroic courage of our ancestors who made this country what it is today.

If there is one enduring lesson we are learning, it is this. We have a solemn responsibility to make sure that the America of tomorrow is as beautiful in heart, mind and spirit as the America we were given yesterday.

Until the next time, we hope that all of your stories have happy endings.

Please keep us in your prayers and always know of our gratitude for your help, kindness and support.

Please provide feedback to:
tmussari@gmail.com

The University of Portland: A Face of America Day of Teaching, Faith and Service

By Tony Mussari

The University of Portland is one of the gems in the crown of eight Congregation of Holy Cross colleges located in the United States.

Located on a site made famous by Lewis and Clark in 1806, this university and its collection of handsome red brick buildings and  lush fruit trees was bathed in the glow of radiant sunshine on this March day.  According to the people we met, this day was about as close to perfection as it gets in Portland.

When we arrived at 5000 Willamette Boulevard, the campus was alive with the sights and sounds of learning. Student volunteers were leading tours of the campus for high school seniors and their parents. A faculty member was working with a group of students on the steps of Franz Hall.  A number of people were making their way up and down the steps of the administration building, Waldschmidt Hall, one of the oldest buildings on campus.  Others were congregating beneath the recently constructed bell tower located next to the Chapel of Christ the Teacher on the perimeter of a beautiful quad in the center of the campus.

Our hostess for the day, Jamie Powell, greeted us with a smile and after a brief introduction we began a whirlwind of activity that resulted in eight interviews and a very special group picture. Jamie is the Director of the Garaventa Center for Catholic Intellectual Life and American Culture. She is a charming , competent, caring woman. Every college should have a Jamie Powell to welcome visitors and present the brand name of the school. Kitch and I knew from the moment we met Jamie that it would be a very good day. There is warmth, kindness and goodness in her eyes.

Our first Face of America interview took place at the Broken Wall, a memorial to  alumni who died in World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.  Standing in front of the focal point of this special place, the Praying Hands, university archivist, Fr. Robert Antonelli, set the tone for the day.  Fr. Bob, as he is affectionate known, is a man who loves life, radiates goodness, and makes everyone he meets feel special. After his interview, we toured the subterranean office where he has carefully and effectively codified the historical artifacts and documents of the university.

Then it was off to lunch where we were joined by Cathy Kendall Johnson and` Doug Hansen. Cathy and Doug work in the development office. They talked positively about their work and their history with the university.  They made us feel comfortable and welcome.

Shortly before 1 p.m. we made our way to the Administration Building where three ROTC cadets were waiting for us.  In a twist of fate, the first cadet we met was Cadet Corporal Gregory Perez from Houston, Texas. He is an engaging and bright young man with a good heart and a million dollar smile. After his interview, he told me he intends to do some research to find out if he is related to the woman who inspired our Face of America project, 2d Lt. Emily Perez.

Army Cadet Major Trenton Conyers is a delightful young man from Newton, Kansas.  He said he never dreamed that he would attend the University of Portland, but fate lead him to the campus and he is glad it did. He loves the school, then people who teach here and his fellow cadets as much as he loves his country.

Cadet Corporal Andrew Riley is one of two brothers who are in ROTC at the university. Andrew is a very tall and athletic looking young man with a heart of gold. He spoke passionately about honor and service to country. He believes his service in the army will enable him to make a contribution to his country and the world.

LTC Lewis Doyle has served his country in uniform for 20 years. He has very strong feelings about the ROTC program and the students he teaches. During his interview, he emphasized the importance of leadership. He talked at great length about the qualities of a successful cadet. As he talked, I got the feeling that these students are in good hands with LTC Doyle. For him, this is more than a job, and these students are more than potential army officers. For LTC Doyle, this is about family.

Shortly before 3 p.m., we were joined by Rev. Gary Chamberland, the Director of Campus Ministry, and Colonel Terry Kono, Professor of Aerospace Studies. Colonel Kono is a man with a perpetual smile on his face, and Fr. Chamberland is a thoughtful man who seems perfectly suited for his position. Both Kono and Chamberland represent the university with dignity and class.

At the appointed hour, the students and faculty assembled in front the administration building for a presentation of the 9/11 National Remembrance Flag. Kitch and Jamie Powell joined the group. It was a very special moment on a very special day in a very special place.

As I snapped the picture, I thought to myself this is the Face of America. These people are not rich, famous or powerful.  They do not make headlines.  They are not celebrities. They go about their work of each day without noise or notice, but by doing what they do in the quiet ways they do it, our country is a better place today, and it will be better place tomorrow.

The stories we recorded were wonderful. The people we met were welcoming, the students who talked with us were focused, and impressive.


The Holy Cross priests we met were inspirational and healing in their warm and compassionate comments.

We came to Oregon in search of the Face of America. We found it here at the University of Portland on a glorious day. We found it in the hearts and minds of thoughtful people who believe in service, reconciliation, redemption and honor. It doesn’t get much better than that.  

Thank you Peg Hogan and Jamie Powell for making this day possible.

Thank you Cathy and Dan Cronen for making our visit to Portland possible.

Thank you Mary Elizabeth O’Connor for opening the door for us.

Until the next time, we hope that all of your stories have happy endings.

Please keep us in your prayers and always know of our gratitude for your help, kindness and support.

Please provide feedback to:
tmussari@gmail.com

Is Your Prius Safe? A Face of America Qustion.
The answer: Yes, Yes, Yes!

By Tony Mussari

Greetings from Portland, Oregon.

As of today, we have driven 4,121 miles cross country in search of the Face of America in our 2007 Toyota Prius.  The car has performed flawlessly.

We drove through a blizzard just outside of Flagstaff, Arizona. We crossed the California desert in intense winds, and we arrived in San Francisco in a driving rainstorm. 

At times, we drove very fast, in excess of 75 miles per hour. On our way to Tustin, the LA freeway became a parking lot, and we moved very slowly.

Wherever we were and whatever the traffic conditions were, our Prius lived up to its reputation.

On Tuesday, March 16, we drove from Moraga California, to the Toyota dealership in Walnut Creek for our 30,000 mile service appointment. The appointment was set up by Jeff Crawford, the service manager at our Toyota dealership in northeastern Pennsylvania, Motorworld.

In Walnut Creek, Al Splendorio and Tim Howell made sure that we were treated as if we purchased our Toyota from them.  They were welcoming, friendly, competent and very accommodating.

One of the wonderful features of Toyota at Walnut Creek is a complimentary breakfast at a very nice restaurant called Buttercup.  Kitch, Julie Marvel and I had a grand time talking about our experiences over a warm cup of coffee and scrambled eggs.

When we returned to pick up our car, our Prius was waiting, and we had a wonderful opportunity to speak with members of the service department and two very satisfied Toyota owners who willingly agreed to speak to us about our Face of America project.

Yesterday in Ashland, Oregon, a man approached our car in a service station.  He looked at me with a face that was full of questions, and then he said: “Is that car you are driving safe?”

That gave me an opportunity to make the case for the Prius and my experience with Toyota.

“Yes it is,” I replied, “and I have the evidence to prove it.  My wife and I are driving to each of the 48 continental states in search of the Face of America in my Prius, and we are here to tell you everything is going well and our Prius is performing beautifully.”

His rejoinder got me thinking. “I believe you.  I like Toyota products.  They should have people like you speaking to people like me because you have actual experience driving the car.”

“How is it on gas?” he asked. That’s one of my favorite questions, because it enables me to sing the praises of the Prius.  We are averaging 43 miles per gallon, and we have been driving speeds of 68 to 75 miles per hour on the highway.

“That’s great mileage,” he replied.

We were now engaged, and Barry Grigsby was willing to tell his Face of America story on camera.   

Thanks to our Prius, we found the Face of America at a Toyota dealership in Walnut Creek, California, and at a Shell gas station in Ashland, Oregon.

Thanks to the fuel efficiency and the superior performance of our Prius, we are able to make this Face of America journey, and fulfill the dream of a lifetime.

Until the next time, we hope that all of your stories have happy endings.

Please keep us in your prayers and always know of our gratitude for your help, kindness and support.

Please provide feedback to:
tmussari@gmail.com

Moraga, California: A Night with Herb Brooks at St. Mary’s College

By Tony Mussari

Kitch and I came to California to deliver a guest lecture in Julie Marvel’s graduate course: Media and Public Relations in Sport Business.

Julie is an accomplished athlete.  She won a state PGA amateur championship when she was 14, and she won the North South amateur PGA event when she was 21. More important than her success on the golf course is her beautiful spirit, her caring way, and her thoughtful nature.

I met Julie in Lake Placid in 2005.  Julie was introducing her son to the magic of this place. Kitch and I were introducing the students in our last class to Herb Brooks and the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team.

On a cold winter afternoon, our paths crossed in the Olympic Museum. We became fast friends, and our lives changed forever. Julie became an integral part of our Miracle at Lake Placid project. She helped us take the project to a level we never dreamed possible. She opened her home and her heart to our students. She shared her knowledge and expertise in ways that benefited everyone associated with the project.

For the past five years, Julie has been a blessing in our life.  She is a loyal friend, a trusted colleague, an understanding and supportive partner in everything we do. Her legacy in our life is all good, all helpful, all wise, and all kind.

Last evening we experienced a moment when friendship and partnership meet, and what a moment it was.

St. Mary’s College sits peacefully in a beautiful setting high above Moraga, California.  At the moment, the college is enjoying a good deal of national attention because of the success of its men’s basketball team. The St. Mary’s Gaels are doing very well in the annual rite of basketball mania affectionately know as March Madness.

On Monday evening, March 15, while Gloria Steinem was lecturing in one part of the campus, Kitch and I were working with Julie’s students in another part of the campus. Quite frankly, it was one of the best experiences of our Face of America journey.

Julie’s students were interested, engaged and willing to participate.  They wanted to learn everything we had to share.  From the opening exercise to the closing quote for the day, they were in the game and were taking advantage of every opportunity to learn about the 1980 Olympics, and the legendary coach who proved that  “impossible is just a degree of difficulty.”

It was one of the best classroom experiences of my life, and according to the students, it was an enjoyable learning experience for them.

We talked about Herb Brooks, his dream, his strategy, his coaching technique, his players, his contribution to hockey, his family, his life and his untimely death. There were special moments that every teacher hopes for, learning moments when you can actually see and feel the light of discovery going on.  It usually appears in the eyes of a student, and it reflects itself in a smile of satisfaction that records the joy of learning in a beautiful grin that stretches from ear to ear.

On this night, I was fortunate to see this on the face of a softball coach who was worried about her team. I saw it in the eyes of a young man named Andrew who dreams of becoming a coach.  It was recorded in the honest comments of Kevin Brady who talked about his discoveries and his passion for sports.  I felt it in the handshake of a welcoming student named Matt. I found it in a polite and professional response from a student named Brett. This young man set the tone for our class by responding to a requst I made with dignity and class.

During our one minute drill at the end of the class, it was recorded in a special way in the comments of a thoughtful young man named Wyatt, and the perceptive comments about America that came from an Australian named Sarah.  Another student named Kevin tied the bow as it were, when he summarized what he learned about Herb Brooks. “It’s all about hard work, participation and family,“ he said.

Kitch and I came to California to deliver a guest lecture in a graduate class at St. Mary’s College. On this night we experienced the joy of teaching in a way that is the dream of every teacher.

Five years after my last class, I experienced one of the best classes of my lifetime. It was a moment of learning, friendship, sharing and discovery. It was a moment of opportunity, a moment of peace and contentment that filled the damaged heart of an old teacher who experienced once again the joy of teaching.

Sometimes one finds the Face of America in a classroom where students want to learn. I can say this with confidence because of my experience at St. Mary’s College.

Sometimes one finds the face of America in the heart and soul of a caring friend. I know this face.  It belongs to Julie Marvel, and Kitch and I were willing to travel 6,000 miles in our Prius to see this face surrounded by the students in her first graduate class.

Herb Brooks often told his players; “ Write your own book instead of reading someone else’s book about success.”

Kitch and I came to California to help a friend teach her students how to write their own book. It produced a dream, a journey and an evening in a classroom at St Mary’s College that will never forget

Thank you Julie.

Until the next time, we hope that all of your stories have happy endings.

Please keep us in your prayers as we make our way to Oregon and the University of Portland, and always know of our gratitude for your help, kindness and support.

Please provide feedback to:
tmussari@gmail.com