Tehachapi News

Nomination for Pauline McClung Bird

Having celebrated her 80th year, Pauline McClung Bird is well beyond the "Soccer Mom" generation with the countless activities and challenges of today's hard-working young mothers who deserve all the accolades and support we can give them. My mother, like many residents of this beautiful area, comes from what NBC journalist Tom Brokaw called "the greatest generation." That was the generation that survived the ravages of the depression, the threat of Hitler, the rising spectre of communism.

Mother's generation sent young lovers and friends off to the Asian and European shores in World War II, younger brothers off to Korea and sons and daughters to Vietnam. They lived through the most dramatic changes on planet earth — in one generation — and survived to raise up a new generation of children and grandchildren to carry on the cherished American values of faith,family and freedom.

This week, some 300 million Mother's Day cards will be sold - in the multiple languages and cultures of modern-day U.S.A. to bear witness to the world's greatest encouragers: our Mothers! My mother has exhibited the time honored and valued qualities of consistency, loyalty, dependability and self-effacing love for others so needed in our times.

What Pauline Bird would offer to all mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers is a sympathetic fellow-traveler in a sisterhood of service to God, family, and country! May God bless her and all Mothers on there special day!