FOR EVERYONE WHO LOVES THIS COUNTRY
The Surprising Story Behind ‘Yankee Doodle’
A Refugee’s Harrowing Escape From North Korea
Kimbal musk Cooks Up Innovation
“America is another name for opportunity. Our whole history appears like a last effort of divine Providence on behalf of the human race.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
CONTENTS
First Look
12 | Fun in the Sun Beach destinations that promise adventures beyond good times on the shores.
Features
14 | Kimbal’s Green Thumb
Kimbal Musk sees a future where all Americans will have access to real, nutritious food.
20 | How Education Can Save the World
Former 7-Eleven CEO James Keyes’s new mission is to get everyone to love learning.
26 | From Pilot to Beauty Queen
Madison Marsh is Miss America 2024, and she also happens to be an active duty Air Force officer.
28 | Portraits of Patriotism
One veteran’s journey to transform her pain into purpose—by picking up the camera.
34 | D-Day in Ohio
A faithful reenactment of that fateful day during World War II, captured in photos.
44 | Living for Freedom
A North Korean refugee’s journey from living under authoritarianism to becoming a passionate human rights activist.
48 | A Heart of Gold
How one police officer is teaching the next generation the importance of doing good deeds.
History
52 | America’s Patriotic Melody
The unexpected story of how the “Yankee Doodle” tune was born.
56 | The Day of Deliverance
America’s birthday will be remembered as the day the 13 Colonies came together—despite their differences.
60 | A Cut Above the Rest
The ingenuity behind 19th-century machinist E.W. McGuire’s invention of the lawn mower.
64 | Wartime Conduct
America showed its humanity by treating World War II prisoners with dignity.
Arts & Letters
70 | Get Married Already!
A sociologist reveals the anti-family rhetoric that has weakened the institution of marriage, and why we need to defy it.
76 | The ‘Confederate Judas’
A new book explores why one Civil War general strove hard for the country’s postwar reconciliation.
78 | Why I Love America
His family came to America in search of opportunity—and for that, he is forever grateful.
80 | My Family Roots
A reader pays homage to her father’s words of wisdom that resonate to this day.
82 | Painting the Seas
Edward Moran memorialized America’s key maritime events in a series of imaginative paintings.
Lifestyle
90 | Breaking Bread
Vibrant dishes that will bring loved ones to the dinner table, courtesy of Kimbal Musk.
96 | A Wellness Adventure
A celebrity nutritionist shows us that developing healthy habits can be a funfilled journey.
102 | Flying High
A guide to practical manners during air travel this summer.
104 | The Ancient City
Exploring the rich history and scenic views of St. Augustine, America’s oldest city.
114 | Parting Thoughts
Advice from a pain specialist doctor on how to maintain the “five pillars of wellness.”
American Essence
PUBLISHER
Dana Cheng
EDITORIAL
Editor-In-Chief
Managing Editor
Lifestyle Editor
History Editor Arts & Letters Editors
Editor-At-Large
Production Manager
Channaly Philipp
Annie Wu
Crystal Shi
Sharon Kilarski
Sharon Kilarski
Jennifer Schneider
Tynan Beatty
Astrid Wang
CREATIVE
Lead Designer Designers
Photographers Illustrator
Marie H.
Sunny Lo
Karen Tang
Samira Bouaou
Adhiraj Chakrabarti
Biba Kayewich
MARKETING & SALES
Marketing Manager
Marketing Assistant
Sales Director
Sales Assistant
Brett Chudá
Jennifer Tseng
Ellen Wang
Onon Otgonbayar
CONTRIBUTORS
Sandy Lindsey, Tim Johnson, Randy Tatano, Chris Lawson, Hazel Atkins, Neil Cotiaux, Ileana Alescio, Rebecca Day, Sally Humphries, Dean George, Jeff Minick, Andrew Benson Brown, Dustin Bass, Josh Jochem Porte, Christina Horton, Michelle Plastrik, Annie Holmquist, Walker Larson, Conan Milner
American Essence (USPS 24810) is published bimonthly by Bright Magazine Group at 5 Penn Plz. Fl.8, New York, NY 10001. Periodicals postage is paid at New York, NY.
Postmaster: Send address changes to American Essence, 5 Penn Plz. Fl.8, New York, NY 10001.
General Inquiries: AmericanEssence.net/help
Advertisement Inquiries: ad@americanessence.com
Submissions: editor@americanessencemag.com
www.AmericanEssence.com
Editor’s Note
Dear Readers,
This month, we celebrate Independence Day. Freedom is about as natural as it comes for Americans who are raised on U.S. soil. For those who hail from other lands, especially where authoritarianism rules, our culture can come as a shock. But it can also be healing, liberating, and empowering.
And often, the spirit of American generosity follows in the wake of freedom.
In the case of Kimbal Musk, who is from South Africa, America not only gave a boost to his entrepreneurial drive in the field of food and hospitality but also compelled him to make an impact through the creation of “learning gardens” in schools across the country (page 14). For Grace Jo, whose dramatic escape from North Korea led her to American shores, it’s also a story of hope. She gives back by speaking to children about the dangers of socialist and communist regimes, opening their eyes to the freedoms they enjoy in America (page 44).
In our history section, don’t miss our touching account of American prisoner-of-war camps where German prisoners were held (page 64). Though now a distant memory, it shows that decency is profoundly humanizing.
Editor-In-Chief Editor@AmericanEssence.com
in the finest at DAYES Coffee Roasters.
We’re proud to introduce our specialty, enzyme fermented coffee. This innovative coffee is low in caffeine, low in acidity, gentle on digestion, mycotoxin free, and deliciously smooth - with notes of dark chocolate, butterscotch, brown sugar, and nuttiness. Fermented with 50 enzymes, each premium quality bean is specially crafted and roasted at our own coffee shop in Middletown, New York.
SOCIAL CALENDAR
Thunder Over Michigan
Spectacular Aviation THUNDER OVER MICHIGAN
Ypsilanti, Mich.
July 20 – 21
The roar of engines will get pulses racing as modern fighter jets are joined by Warhawks, Mustangs, Corsairs, a Kingcobra, a Fokker D.I, Red Bull Aerobatics, and more. When not looking skyward or enjoying an aircraft ride, check out the performers up close and personal at the ground display, which honors the 50th Anniversary of the F-16 Falcon. ThunderOverMichigan.org
Operatic Excellence GLIMMERGLASS
Cooperstown, N.Y.
July 22 – Aug. 20
A summer-long celebration of the arts, Glimmerglass 2024 covers the range of opera experiences from the light and entertaining “The Pirates of Penzance” and “La Calisto” to the melodramatic “Pagliacci.” Located in bucolic upstate New York, the event is an immersive experience where one can meet and mingle with fellow enthusiasts through artist’s talks, brunches, dinners, and more. Glimmerglass.org
For the Love of Lobster MAINE LOBSTER FESTIVAL
Rockland, Maine
July 31 – Aug. 4
Founded in 1947, this event is much more than delicious lobster dinners. There are cooking contests, local artisans and craftsmen creating and selling their special works, and entertainment. Over the past 77 years, the festival has raised more than $500,000 for midcoast Maine food pantries, school sports teams, community services, and more. Bring your appetite. MaineLobsterFestival.com
By Sandy Lindsey
Flavor Fiesta SOCAL TACO FEST
San Diego, Calif.
Aug. 17
Only in Southern California can you find a celebration that includes exciting chihuahua races and beauty pageants, Lucha Libre wrestling performances, and endless taco variations and antojitos (Mexican street food). Sip a massive margarita or alcoholfree mocktail while enjoying national and international performers on stage. SocalTacoFest.com
Tennis, Anyone? US OPEN
Flushing, N.Y.
Aug. 18 – Sept. 8
Did you know that the US Open and Labor Day share a birthday? Dating back to 1881, this Grand Slam tournament is an extravaganza of great sportsmanship. It’s equally renowned for its wonderful food, with over 40 options ranging from fine meals from top chefs to lavishly topped ice cream. USOpen.org
Adventure Aloft GREAT RENO BALLOON RACE
Reno, Nev.
Sept. 6 – 8
During the largest free hot-air balloon event in the world, 100-plus stunning balloons rise up into the sky, with special displays like glow-in-thedark balloons and pre-dawn take-offs. Book a ride for the Great Race, and enjoy crafts, food, and drinks on Balloon Boulevard. Also, there’s tethered balloon rides for kids. RenoBalloon.com
U.S. Open
Great Reno Ballon Race
Discover Riverside Preparatory Academy today.
CULTURE SHORTLIST
‘Art and War in the Renaissance: The Battle of Pavia Tapestries’
Fort Worth, Texas
June 16 – Sept. 15
KimbellArt.org
For the first time in America, visitors to the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth can see seven monumental tapestries, each around 14 feet by 27 feet, full of military leaders, horsemen, and mercenaries fighting with pikes, swords, and firearms. During the Renaissance, key battle wins were woven into tapestries of
‘Saving Lincoln’
Southerner Ward Hill Lamon predated the Secret Service, but as Abraham Lincoln’s close friend and a U.S. Marshal, he tenaciously protected the president—except for the night he was dispatched to Virginia on official government business. Lamon reflects on his career in flashbacks, incorporating vintage Civil War photography through green-screen CGI.
DIRECTOR Salvador Litvak STARS
Tom Amandes, Lea Coco, Penelope Ann Miller, Bruce Davison RELEASED 2013
STREAMING Freevee, Tubi, Pluto, Plex, Roku
fine wool, silk, and metal-wrapped thread, such as “The Battle of Pavia Tapestries.”
These document Emperor Charles V’s decisive victory in northwest Italy over French King Francis I, which ended the Italian War of 1521–1526. The exhibition runs from June 16 through September 15.
These pages are in the preview.
‘Boone: A Biography’
So much that’s been written about frontiersman Daniel Boone (1734–1820) teeters on the edge of hyperbole, but author Robert Morgan delves into the truth of this complex American icon. Giving a rich sense of place, Morgan takes readers through the life of the renaissance man who left his historical mark as adventurer, statesman, soldier, family man, and more.
Algonquin Books, 2007 Hardcover, 538 pages
‘All Trails Lead to Houston: Riding to the Rodeo’
Every February, over 2,000 riders travel to Houston on horseback. Following 10 different trails, they meet at Houston’s Memorial Park, and the next day they lead the parade opening the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Ray Viator’s book tells that story in text and photographs, capturing the best of Texas and Houston.
Texas A&M University Press, 2023 Hardcover, 264 pages
are not included preview.
“I always love a problem. How do we do things better? What’s great about America is the celebration of innovation and the celebration of trying new things.”
—Kimbal Musk, entrepreneur
Building the Future of Food
After a near-death experience, Kimbal Musk poured his entrepreneurial drive into a new calling: changing the way America eats, for the better
By Randy Tatano
First Restaurant Opening
Kimbal Musk opened his first restaurant in Boulder, Colo., in March 2004. For the first year, he was sous-chef in the kitchen, working the line 5 to 7 days a week.
These pages are in the preview.
Imagine spending 18 months at one of the most prestigious culinary schools in the world, and the first assignment you get after graduating is peeling potatoes in a volunteer kitchen.
But that’s only part of an unusual story that includes a near-death experience, a message from God, and a terrorist attack that led one man to a career dedicated to bringing local, sustainable food to Americans.
Then again, you wouldn’t expect anything less from someone with the last name of Musk. In this case, the tale belongs to Elon’s brother, Kimbal. While the more famous sibling is launching rockets and electric cars, Kimbal Musk is cooking up innovations in the kitchen. The former tech entrepreneur has dedicated his life to his nonprofit, Big Green, which supports sustainable farming, educating children about growing food, and expanding home, school, and community gardens.
He also owns several farm-to-table restaurants in Colorado and Chicago, with a forthcoming location in Austin, Texas. “The kitchen is truly where I have so much passion,” he said. “I love … walking into my restaurant
Mr. Musk bakes a cake in New York, in 2000.
are not included preview.
and feeling the energy of the community.”
He recently wrote a cookbook, “The Kitchen Cookbook: Cooking for Your Community,” in the hopes that everyone can experience the joy of sharing the fruits (and vegetables) of their labor; he feels that cooking a meal for someone is the ultimate act of sharing.
How he came to this point in his life is a story in itself.
From Tech to Social Entrepreneurship
Already successful and financially secure at age 27 when he and his brother sold Zip2, the tech company they founded together, Mr. Musk decided to pursue cooking. He enrolled in the French Culinary Institute in New York, thinking that the experience would be an exotic endeavor. Instead, it was a lot like the highstress cooking shows on television.
“I thought of going in and it being somewhat romantic. And it was like the movie ‘Full Metal Jacket.’ It was screaming at you, all the time, breaking you down, in a boot camp kind of mentality.” Of the 25 students who enrolled in that class, only six made it through the yearand-a-half course, he recalled.
Let’s Grow Food
Mr. Musk co-founded Big Green to educate children about growing food. The nonprofit provides “learning gardens” for schools across the country.
Timing is often everything in life, and this case was no different. Shortly after Mr. Musk completed his training, the 9/11 terrorist attack devastated New York. The city needed its firefighters, police, and first responders more than ever; it also needed people to cook for them as they worked around the clock in rescue and relief efforts. “It started out with me peeling potatoes, and I was there for six weeks, through the end of October.” Top chefs from around the world gathered to cook meals for the rescue workers. Eventually, Mr. Musk worked his way up to the point where he was preparing the dishes.
He enjoyed serving firefighters dishes they probably didn’t get on a regular basis, like sautéed salmon in a creamy dill sauce. During this time, he saw the effect good food had on people as he watched the exhausted, emotionally spent rescue workers renew their spirits as they ate. “We would feed them some of the best foods I think they’d ever eaten in their lives. … We were putting so much love into the food. And the color was circling back to their faces. They never stopped talking to each other. And by the end of that 45-minute break, the room
Keeping Up With Kimbal Musk
• Co-founder and executive chairman of Big Green, which now partners with over 100 nonprofits that help Americans grow food. It has also set up about 650 learning gardens in schools around the country, reaching over 350,000 students
• Co-founder of Square Roots, an urban farming company that provides locally grown food to cities via hydroponic farms
• Co-founder of The Kitchen Restaurant Group
• On the board of Tesla and SpaceX
The playground at Hillcrest Elementary in Los Angeles includes a Big Green learning garden.
Fun Facts Miss America, Reporting for Duty
Hometown: Fort Smith, Arkansas
Position in the Air Force: Second lieutenant Duties at the Air Force: Public affairs, recruitment efforts
Miss America credentials: Representing Colorado
Why she started competing in pageants:
Seeing its focus on community service and leadership, she felt inspired to transform her grief into advocacy following her mother’s death
Get to know the 2024 crowned beauty who blazed a new path in pageantry for military service members
By Hazel Atkins
IN HER EARLY TEENS, Madison
Marsh attended a space camp and met several astronauts. “I just fell in love with the idea of being the first woman on Mars,” she said. So she took flying lessons at age 15 and joined the Air Force Academy to work toward her goal. She loved the thrill of flying and became an Air Force officer. When Marsh, 22, was crowned Miss America in January, she became the first Miss America to also be an active duty member of the military.
She hopes her win will show people that you can achieve anything you set your heart to, and that women can embrace their feminine and strong sides in the service of others.
“I love being able to lead others and serve in something that’s bigger than just me,” she said.
Air Force 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh poses in front of a glider at the U.S. Air Force Academy, in December 2023, shortly before her Miss America win.
Ms. Marsh prepares for her familiarization flight at the Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.
“ On the days that I feel down and not motivated, I think of my mom. If she can get up and make herself go run 10 miles after recovering from chemo treatment, then I can get up. ”
Fighting For Her Mom
American Essence: How do you plan to use your platform as Miss America?
Ms. Marsh: The most important role for me this year as Miss America is to support research on pancreatic cancer on a national level. My mom was Whitney Marsh. She died of pancreatic cancer when she was only 41 years old. There were just 9 months between her diagnosis and her death. My national level goals include diversifying the ways we raise money and lobbying for legislation to get early detection standards implemented nationwide.
Ms. Marsh with an Air Force colleague. Ms. Marsh is currently working on her master’s degree in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School.
Ms. Marsh cheers on competitors at the Big Hoopla STEM Challenge basketball game in Dayton, Ohio, on March 19, 2024.
Stacy Pearsall with her service dog, Charlie, provided by the charity America’s VetDogs.
Capturing Heroism
Stacy Pearsall found her post-combat calling in honoring fellow veterans through her photography
By Neil Cotiaux
Inwardly, former U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Stacy Pearsall was seething. Her future seemed like a dead end. In fact, she had pondered suicide not once, but several times. There, sitting in a waiting room at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, South Carolina, she was convinced the decks were stacked against her.
Four years prior in 2004, Ms. Pearsall had sustained a traumatic brain injury, spine trauma, and a ruptured eardrum after being hit by an improvised explosive device (IED) while deployed in Iraq. “I received out-patient care from a flight doctor, who did a basic triage, gave me Motrin, and released me,” she said. She was back on mission the next day. “My neck pain was explained away as whiplash. My splitting headache was attributed to concussion, which would later be diagnosed as traumatic brain injury.”
After several more deployments and another IED incident in 2007, Ms. Pearsall was medically retired and awarded a Bronze Star for her courageous actions on duty. She had begun making regular visits to the VA hospital in Charleston, and that was where she met a veteran who inspired her to change her thinking and life around.
“Please don’t come talk to me,” she thought as an elderly veteran approached her. “And he sat down next to me, and I can feel him staring at me. … I wanted to lash out at all the darkness that was sort of brewing inside of me, I just wanted to spew
out on him,” Ms. Pearsall recalled.
But something held her back. The man who approached her was World War II veteran Mickey Dorsey, who had found his postwar purpose as a volunteer at the VA. Mr. Dorsey had survived D-Day and helped liberate the Nazis’ Gunskirchen Lager concentration camp. Over the years at the VA, slowly and reassuringly, he tried to help put the nightmares of fellow veterans to rest.
“A very small percentage of Americans actually raise their hand and volunteer. Those that do, need their stories told.
Stacy has found a profound and lasting way to do this.”
Michael McNamara, chief of outreach, marketing, and advertising for the New England VA healthcare system
Watching Mr. Dorsey and others put aside their own stories for the sake of others was an epiphany. Ms. Pearsall decided she would use photography to capture the inner essence of the men and women who had given so much for their country. She started with photo equipment from the VA.
Little did she know that those photographic portrait sessions would eventually emerge as a nationwide platform, the Veterans Portrait Project, for veterans to receive the recognition they are due.
Giving Her All
The daughter of an air traffic controller for the U.S. Navy and a mother who stressed the importance of creativity, Ms. Pearsall, now 44, joined the Air Force at 17. She started as an Air Force photographer and displayed her talent; she was named Military Photographer of the Year by the National Press Photographer Association in 2003.
After her first IED blast in Iraq, she returned home for medical care. The Air Force soon placed her in the military photojournalism program at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. There, Ms. Pearsall honed her professional skills and would later put them to use in the 1st Combat Camera Squadron that documents combat operations, special operations, and humanitarian relief missions.
Nancy Austin, deputy director of military programs at the Syracuse program, praised the strong work ethic Ms. Pearsall displayed while
going through tremendous physical and psychological trauma. “She soaked up all she could learn, always went the extra mile, and even took an extra class that was not part of the curriculum,” Ms. Austin said.
After receiving her photojournalism certification in 2005, Ms. Pearsall returned overseas on combat duty. But the second IED incident made it a short-lived mission. The Veteran Portrait Project gave her a new sense of purpose. To date, she has touched down in all 50 states and photographed approximately 8,500 veterans in nearly 200 photo sessions. Each high-resolution portrait is handed to the individual subject and can be shared with family, friends, and through social media. What began informally in a hospital waiting room in Charleston has transformed into a sprawling nonprofit that honors veterans in a very personal way.
Michael McNamara, an Army veteran and chief of outreach, marketing, and advertising for the New England VA healthcare system, explained why Ms. Pearsall’s work has resonated with fellow veterans. “I believe veterans see this as a way of telling their story,” he said. “Some want to display their pride for their time served, while others wish to show they are okay and have made
These pages are in the preview.
it since their service.” Many times, Ms. Pearsall’s portraits have served as a springboard to public discussions about the struggles local vets face.
“The U.S. has been an all-volunteer military for over 50 years,” observed Mr. McNamara, and unlike during World War II, “a very small percentage of Americans actually raise their hand and volunteer. Those that do, need their stories told. Stacy has found a profound and lasting way to do this.”
Ms. Austin added that the photo project was a form of healing for Ms. Pearsall. “She was giving to others and connecting to fellow veterans. … Stacy has a way of making people feel like they are special and important. I believe that is because the people Stacy meets are special and important to her.” Though Ms. Pearsall has met thousands of veterans throughout her 16-year crusade, there is one she’s photographed that she will never forget. His name is Tommy Clack.
Mr. Clack was hit by a mortar round in Vietnam and lost a leg and an arm. He was found without a pulse and placed on a pile of the dead.
A doctor later had second thoughts, declared him alive, and shipped him to a VA hospital, where he survived 33 operations. Mr. Clack has spent
his life post-combat helping veterans apply for medical benefits.
“Tommy is inspiring because of his perseverance and grit, his unwavering devotion to his faith and nation, his dedication to family and the veteran community, and of course, his unending supply of love and grace,” Ms. Pearsall said. “He is my hero.”
Ms. Pearsall’s thoughtful photography has been displayed at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, the Pentagon, the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Ohio, among other institutions. At the museum in Ohio, which features exhibits on veterans’ challenges, sacrifices, achievements, and how they are using their skills during active duty to contribute to their communities, Ms. Pearsall’s work hangs in the Great Hall, while some of her war photography became the museum’s first traveling exhibit. The portraits on display show the “then and now” of 22 veterans: “One side of the photo is from a person’s military service, and the other is the same person but as a veteran after service,” according to National Veterans Memorial and Museum director Andy Cloyd.
1. While working as a U.S. Air Force combat photographer, Ms. Pearsall, alongside her colleague, prepares to clear a house in Khalis, Iraq, February 2007.
2.
Ms. Pearsall was the marshall for a Veterans Day parade in Charleston, S.C., that took place in November 2009.
3.
Ms.
from
4. Ms. Pearsall speaks with WWIIera Coast Guard veteran Kathleen Donahue during a Veterans Portrait Project event held in Bismarck, N.D., July 2019.
Pearsall recovers
surgery with her stepson by her side at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in South Carolina, August 2011.
WHERE D-DAY
Reenactors remain strictly “in character” during battle events. Here, a soldier calls out for support.
World War II reenactors convene every year in northeast Ohio to present a momentous time in our history
By Channaly Philipp
COMES ALIVE
Each summer, the largest annual D-Day reenactment in the world takes place on the shores of Lake Erie in Conneaut, Ohio. The site bears a considerable resemblance to Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, from its sloping bluffs to the 250-yard-long stretch of sand.
It started in 1999, when a small group of people came together to recreate the June 6, 1944, Normandy landing. Over the years, the event grew in scope and size; it now draws over 1,500 reenactors every year, while remaining completely donation-driven.
The guidelines to protect authenticity are strict. Reenactors go to great lengths to research and procure outfits and camp equip-
ment. To the great delight of curious visitors making their way through the Allied and Axis encampments, these living historians deliver a remarkable depth of knowledge.
The big event is without question the beach landing as Allied troops arrive via Higgins boats and make their way onto the beach under German fire, while military aircraft provide cover overhead.
This year, on August 15–17, D-Day Conneaut will mark the 80th anniversary of the Allied landing. There were 119,550 U.S. World War II veterans still alive in 2023—out of the 16.4 million who served in the war. D-Day Conneaut honors the Greatest Generation and reminds us of the sacrifices it took to preserve freedom.
Reenactors on a Higgins boat, off the shores of Lake Erie. Higgins boats were designed by Andrew Higgins to navigate shallow waters. Allied commander and President Dwight D. Eisenhower declared them crucial in the Allied Forces’ victory on the Western Front. Measuring 36 feet long by 11 feet wide, each boat was powered by a 225-horsepower diesel engine.
These pages are in the preview.
ABOVE Soldiers storm the embankment above the beach.
LEFT Reenactors hail from all across North America.
are not included preview.
A nurse attends to a wounded soldier.
Freedom Anthem
Originally written by the British to mock colonial troops during the Revolutionary War, ‘Yankee Doodle’ soon became a tune to celebrate independence and American pride
By Rebecca Day
One of America’s favorite traditional songs contains some of the most interesting lyrics ever written. Children who learn “Yankee Doodle” often recite it in class or for school productions, but they rarely know the history behind the song. What do the famous words of “Yankee Doodle” really mean?
The title itself was meant to be a joke, one thought up by British soldiers during the French and Indian War in Colonial British America to poke fun at the Colonies’ ragtag volunteer soldiers. The best-known verse contains the phrase, “Stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni.” Food might come to mind first due to the perceived pasta reference. But the unique phrase actually refers to a popular wig style of the day, the Macaroni wig often worn to signify an aristocratic lifestyle. The satirical lyrics paint the picture of a Colonial soldier unsuccessfully attempting to adopt a British soldier’s more dignified persona. He’s nicknamed a “Yankee Doodle Dandy.”
The simple song sounds a lot like a nursery rhyme. While it contains some of early America’s most interesting lyrics, what is most interesting about the pre-Revolutionary War song is the reason it was written in the first place. It was meant to be satirical. But it ultimately became an unabashed anthem for freedom among Revolutionary War soldiers fighting for American independence.
A Strategic Parody
The origin of “Yankee Doodle” takes place during the French and Indian War, which began in British America in 1754. British soldiers fought alongside soldiers of the founding Colonies in an effort to defeat French forces. British soldiers were struck by American soldiers’ modest appearance and their simpler way of life, which generally focused on rural and agricultural affairs.
LEFT
This side drum, attributed to Ernest Vogt (circa 1864), was produced for the Union Army during the Civil War. Beginning in the mid-17th century, side drums were used to provide cadences for the Colonial marching armies.
RIGHT
The lithograph “Yankee Doodle 1776” is based on the painting “Spirit of ’76” by Archibald M. Willard, circa 1876.
British military surgeon Richard Shuckburgh penned the initial verses around 1755. In the coming years, a grassroots process with the comical, entertaining tune took place as several verses were added and edited by various servicemen.
Increasing tension between Great Britain and the original 13 Colonies over the next 20 years invigorated a good portion of the New World. Eventually, towns and provinces spanning the east coast banded together in favor of American independence from Great Britain. The first leader of the newly established Continental Army in 1775, George Washington, further emboldened them.
As the initial conflict of what became the
Revolutionary War got underway, British soldiers attempted to turn the satirical tune into a scare tactic. As they made their way through New England towns in an effort to reduce stockpiles of munitions held by volunteer soldiers, they sang “Yankee Doodle” to alarm townspeople. They also sang it at the Battle of Bunker Hill, a harrowing British victory.
Known as “Minutemen,” New England’s volunteer fighters were thought to be no match for the British, who had the most powerful military in the world at the time. However, once the war got well underway and American armies began winning battles, that all changed, along with the use of the song.
An Unofficial Anthem
The first officially recorded instance of Colonial troops using the song to their advantage happened at the legendary Battle of Lexington and Concord. British troops descended on communities of Massachusetts Bay but were met with significant pushback by a unit of minutemen. They pushed British soldiers back into Boston, stifling their efforts to increase seized territory. Supposedly, Colonial soldiers made the Brits sing “Yankee Doodle” all the way back to Boston in an effort to tire out their taste for the catchy tune.
These pages are in the preview.
The clever tactic worked well. After the battle, a Boston newspaper featured a quote from a British soldier who said in regards to the song and their adversaries, “Dang them. They made us dance it till we were tired.”
After a formidable Colonial victory at the Siege of Yorktown in Virginia, American troops broke into song with their military band as they celebrated their triumph. “Yankee Doodle” was the first choice. This time, they added new lyrics along with a reference to their beloved leader, George Washington, who was a key strategic figure regarding the success of the battle.
In 1777, British troops failed to take control of the Hudson River Valley during their Saratoga campaign. Victory was in sight for Colonial America. As the British surrendered, American soldiers once again proudly belted out the words to “Yankee Doodle.”
By the end of the war, a massive cultural shift had taken place among what was once British America. Freedom, independence, and American pride were passionately celebrated across the
“The Five Orders of Periwigs” by William Hogarth, 1761, is a satire of British society’s macaroni wigs. The artist applied the terminology of classical architecture to men’s wigs as though it were an architectural treatise.
not included preview.
17th-Century Slang: An Etymology of Terms are
victorious Colonies. By 1783, when the Treaty of Paris was signed, marking the official end of the Revolutionary War, the song had gained so much popularity that it acted as an unofficial national anthem.
A song written to mock the unassuming Colonial North American soldier had become a symbol of freedom and national pride in all of the American Colonies.
A Song for American Patriotism
Though America’s war for independence officially ended in the early 1780s, “Yankee Doodle” continued its reign as a popular patriotic song. Even into the 20th century, the song’s historic significance was recognized. In 1978, the state of Connecticut made “Yankee Doodle” its official song.
From booming orchestral variations to playful schoolyard renditions, the folksy tune continues to be an integral part of American patriotism. It’s a charming nod to the country’s founding soldiers, whose creativity, wit, and strength turned a dismissive, satirical song into a resounding victory march for liberty.
When we hear the word “Yankee,” our first thought is a New Yorker, especially since the state officially adopted it for their American League baseball team in 1913. During America’s Revolution, a “Yankee” was slang for all the colonists, but after the Civil War—and currently—the word predominantly describes New Englanders.
So, where does “doodle” or “dandy” come from?
In the 17th century, “doodle” was an English word for a “fool” or a “simple man.” It took a few hundred years to morph into the definition we now use
for a thoughtless sketch. While the direct origins are not confirmed, it was most likely a German derivative of “dudeltopf” (simpleton).
A “dandy” was abbreviated from the 17th-century British term “jack-a-dandy”—a conceited man who was preoccupied with his physical appearances. In the 18th and 19th centuries, a “dandy” became a slang term for a middle-class or self-made man who imitated the aristocratic lifestyle.
Put together, a ‘Yankee Doodle Dandy’ was a simple colonist that foolishly misappropriated British aristocratic fashion.
A postcard depicting the Battle of Lexington in Lexington, Mass., painted in the late 19th century.
Treating the Enemy With Civility
During World War II, American POW camps were known for the humane and respectful treatment of their prisoners
By Jeff Minick
“Hände hoch!” During World War II, American soldiers undoubtedly shouted that command—“Hands up!”—countless times to their German counterparts in North Africa, Italy, France, and Germany, for by the war’s end, more than 400,000 German soldiers were imprisoned in some 500 camps scattered around the United States.
The first large batches of POWs arrived in America when the British, following major North African victories, became overwhelmed by the number of German prisoners in their country and asked their American ally for assistance in housing and feeding them. Soon, these POWs arrived in the thousands aboard American ships returning from the British Isles. On arrival, they were dispatched under guard on trains to their
assigned camps, prisons usually located near small towns and in rural areas, generally in the South and the Midwest.
The Big Picture
Most often, these camps consisted of barracks built to house the prisoners. The compounds were surrounded by guard towers and barbed wire fences. Though most of these camps would be described today as minimum security prisons, fewer than 1 percent of the prisoners attempted to escape, in part because American treatment of POWs was humane and generous. The men received better food than they had in the military, and many even found their living quarters in the barracks a great improvement over the small cold-water flats where they had lived in Germany.
July 1943.
ABOVE
Several POWs worked in the greenhouse at Camp Aliceville in Alabama, tending to flowers and plants for their gardens.
FAR LEFT Fort Lewis in western Washington established a POW camp for three years beginning in
One inmate described the camp as “a golden cage,” far superior to the harsh life led by Americans in German and Japanese POW camps.
Like other countries fighting in this conflict, the United States suffered from a labor shortage.
The Geneva Accords stipulated that prisoners could only be forced to work if they were paid for their labor. After some debate, American officials paid the German internees 80 cents per day to work on farms and in factories that didn’t directly produce military weapons or supplies. The prisoners might spend their wages on small luxuries in the camp commissaries.
Fewer than 1 percent of the prisoners attempted to escape, in part because American treatment of POWs was humane and generous.
So easy and light was the supervision in these camps that the greatest threat to the prisoners came not from their guards, but from each other.
Nazi devotees, who were a small minority of the inmates, frequently threatened or even murdered inmates they considered quislings and traitors for befriending camp staff. Eventually, American
authorities established special camps for these fanatical devotees of fascism, and separated them from the common run of German detainees.
These pages are in the preview.
At war’s end, these captured soldiers were gradually repatriated to Germany. Though most remained there, some returned to the United States to work, to marry, and to raise families.
Once emptied, many camps were torn down or abandoned. The rush of postwar events and the natural course of time have so eroded the stories and histories of these places that many Americans today are unaware that such detention centers ever existed.
But like all generalizations, this one comes with exceptions.
Aliceville
From June 1943 to September 1945, the town of Aliceville, Alabama, played host to the largest POW camp in the Southeast. Four hundred wooden barracks held up to 6,000 captured Germans and 1,000 U.S. military personnel. Like many other such compounds, the Aliceville Prisoner of War Camp was dismantled after the war, and the lumber sold for scrap. All that remains today of the original camp is a vine-covered stone chimney.
The people of Aliceville remembered the camp by honoring it with a museum. Here, we find the largest collection of POW camp artifacts in the United States: photographs, paintings, draw-
A POW band plays for a Halloween dance at the American officers’ club in Aliceville in 1944. POWs also created a philharmonic orchestra, a brass band, and a string quartet with instruments provided by the YMCA.
ings, sculptures, musical instruments, letters, and more, most of which came from the hands of the German prisoners. Museum visitors learn that these POWs were skilled at making artwork, marionettes, costumes for plays, and all sorts of practical and decorative pieces from materials scrounged around the prison. “They were really artists,” says Sue Stabler in a video documenting the camp’s history. Stabler led the way in establishing the museum. “They could take nothing and come up with something of beauty to it.”
They seemed to expect, as one ex-prisoner puts it, ‘devils with horns,’ but they found instead that their enemies were human beings.
Especially touching, and replete with elements of humor, are the accounts by all these parties of the first German arrivals in Aliceville. When they heard that the Germans were coming, the townspeople lined the streets from the railway station to the camp. They seemed to expect, as one ex-prisoner puts it, “devils with horns,” but they found instead that their enemies were human beings. The guards quickly drew the same conclusions. Not knowing what to expect, the Germans found their captors fair in their treatment and generous with their assistance.
At the end of the film, a former German inmate sums up the spirit of the reunion with words surely as old as war itself: “The thing we have to be thankful for and … the meaning of this reunion is that all this war and hatred and all these things are behind us. … We are looking at each other as human beings and appreciate [each other] as human beings, and there’s peace between us and friendship between us. That’s the real meaning of it.”
are not included preview.
The prisoners organized plays and musical performances, organized soccer games and foot races, and planted vegetable and flower gardens, in some cases with spectacular effects. There was a camp newspaper, some of the prisoners taught college courses—English was by far the most popular—and though books in German, novels, histories, and biographies, were often in short supply, these too were available.
Camp life didn’t run as smoothly as these activities might suggest. Disease and wounds led to some prisoners’ deaths. Two Germans were shot dead one rainy night trying to escape, and several attempted or committed suicide. As mentioned earlier, it became necessary to weed out the radical Nazis who terrorized, beat, and even throttled prisoners they deemed disloyal to Adolph Hitler, and send them to special camps.
Swords Into Plowshares
In addition to the museum, the University of Alabama Television Services produced a film documenting a 1989 reunion of camp guards, former POWs, and Aliceville townspeople. Through a blend of their reminiscences and photographs from the wartime camp, viewers are given an excellent introduction to life behind wire, the relationships that developed between guards and prisoners, and the impact of this large installment on the small town of Aliceville.
Peace, friendship, a common humanity: These are the final messages from the Aliceville Prisoner of War Camp to the rest of us.
German POWs board a train in Boston.
Why We Need Families
Marriage isn’t the respected institution that it used to be, but according to sociologist Brad Wilcox, raising a family has tangible benefits and is necessary for society
By Dustin Bass
Brad Wilcox, professor of sociology and the director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, recently wrote the book “Get Married: Why Americans Should Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization.” In an era where divorces are up and marriages are down, Mr. Wilcox’s book is a countercultural work. The author, who is also a professor, husband, and father, sat down for a discussion about his new book and why marriage is the best decision you can make.
American Essence: It seems marriage is often portrayed as a feat of strength rather than a chance for fulfillment. Do you think one of the
problems is that we label marriage and parenthood as a difficulty with some benefits instead of a benefit with some difficulties? How do we change the view of marriage to make it as appealing as it is in your book?
Mr. Wilcox: The point of the book in part is underlining that marriage is a good thing and family is a good thing, and that more Americans should embrace them. But also recognize that they are super hard to do.
I think right now, especially when it comes to having kids, people often see all the negative pieces to being a parent. They see how it is going to disrupt their sleep or make it hard for them to go out to a nice restaurant or travel to the beach or mountains. But they don’t appreciate
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
BRAD WILCOX
Brad Wilcox is professor of sociology and director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia. He has written and edited six books and co-edited “Gender and Parenthood.” Specializing in research on marriage and the welfare of children, Mr. Wilcox is the Future of Freedom Fellow at the Institute for Family Studies.
the way in which babies are cute and the incredible expressions of love, affection, and devotion that kids can convey to their parents. I’ve got twins, for instance, and one of them, every night—my 14-year-old daughter—will come and find me wherever I am in the house and give me a kiss on the forehead or a hug. Here I am, mid-life, and that is an incredibly meaningful part of my day. Had I not made the effort in my 20s to date and pursue their mother, that probably would not have happened. They’re twins, so when they were little, they were extraordinarily hard just to take care of. We had adopted a bunch of kids, so it was total bedlam. I was completely stressed out, as it was during the recession. So for me and my wife, it was not a happy moment for our marriage or our lives in general back in 2009. But we persevered, and now we have the fruits of that, which are two lovely daughters who are doing extraordinarily well, are affectionate, thoughtful, and engaging on so many different levels.
ing how to excel in a sport. No one is surprised that to be particularly good at a sport requires a lot of sacrifice. It’s the same thing for marriage. To be a decent spouse, a great spouse especially, and a decent or great parent, requires some measure of sacrifice. The more you put into it, the more you get out of it.
AE: You note in your book that marriage among working-class Americans, which makes up the majority of Americans, is in a free fall. Why is that?
Brad Wilcox
These pages are in the preview.
“When men and women are in their 50s, they have about 10 times the assets as their nevermarried peers.”
I’m not sure that people know that part of the whole parenthood piece enough today.
I wish we could think of marriage and family as we do of being a great basketball player, or gymnast, or fillin-the-blank. People know it can be hard to train to be a good athlete, but there is something so joyful in learn-
Mr. Wilcox: There are a number of factors in play. It is worth noting that religious attendance has fallen [more] among the working class, which are Americans without a degree, than it has for college-educated Americans. Another factor that is hugely important is that we have seen declines in male work, primarily among males without degrees. We know that full-time work is a big predictor for getting married in the first place and staying married in the second place. The erosion of stable, full-time work among the working class is a big factor. There has been a broader array of cultural shifts away from marriage. When American mores around sex, marriage, and family shifted in the ’60s and ’70s, everyone was affected, but I think the working class and poor Americans were especially affected by the normative changes. Also, [this is] partly because of our laws and policies. The shift to no-fault divorce is a factor that has undercut people’s faith in the reliability of marriage. I’m not saying that we should go back to the 1950s’ model of marriage law, but the way we handle divorce has undercut a lot of people’s, especially men’s, faith in marriage.
I think many of our policies and programs have made us less likely
to look at marriage as an important financial foundation. Instead, we look toward the government as the primary or backup source of financial support.
It is also true that if you enter and treat marriage in a cavalier or self-centered way, then you are most likely to fail at marriage, in terms of both divorce and being reasonably happy. Marriage is most likely to flourish when each spouse is trying to be generous toward the other.
“Marriage is most likely to flourish when each spouse is trying to be generous toward the other.”
Brad Wilcox
There were books in the ’70s, too. Books like “The Courage to Divorce” that basically gave people a reason or a license to divorce, and put a premium on their individual desires and projects rather than on their spouse and their family.
The messages are formative and shape people’s ideals, preferences, and expectations. So, for example, the soul-mate myth articulated in novels, movies, and songs is this idea that love and marriage are about having an intense emotional connection with someone, and if somehow that connection becomes attenuated or fraught or difficult or challenging, then maybe you really aren’t in love and maybe you shouldn’t stay married to this person. It gave people a false portrait of what to expect, and those expectations were more likely to be dashed.
are not included preview.
AE: You mention the “Me” decade of the ’70s and how pop culture influenced a selfish revolution. How does pop culture influence the individual? And do you think we give it enough credit or too much credit for the influence it has on society as a whole?
Mr. Wilcox: Pop culture both leads and follows shifts in the larger society. I grew up in the ’70s. Marlo Thomas recorded “Free to Be… You and Me.” One of the songs the album had was “The Sun and the Moon,” which said, “I think I’d rather be the sun that shines so bold and bright, than be the moon that only glows with someone else’s light.” Here you have a pretty crystalline articulation of a much more me-centered way of approaching life and relationships. It’s part and parcel for why we saw marriage rates fall and divorce rates surge in the 1970s.
In my book, I talk about how a family-first marriage is about romance, but it’s also about recognizing that marriage is a source of financial security, a source of social solidarity, a way to be with and for your kin, and is especially for the welfare of any children that you have.
AE: Changes to the institution of marriage during the modern era can be compared to how the institution of government began to change with 18th- and 19th-century independence movements around the world. Much like how world governments have struggled with handling societal independence movements, 20th-century changes in the family have resulted in individual independence movements where men and women still struggle with what is the ultimate social contract of marriage. Has this revolution of mutual independence created a deterrent to marriage?
Mr. Wilcox: In many ways, yes.
ABOUT THE BOOK ‘GET MARRIED’
Brad Wilcox stomps out the myths that have been propagated by the elites to collapse the nuclear family in his 2023 book “Get Married: Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization.” To help readers shift to a “we” before “me” mentality, Mr. Wilcox illustrates the “five C’s” (Communion, Children, Commitment, Cash, and Community) to successfully navigate and strengthen marriages.
Why I Love America
Coming to America
One reader’s family emigrated from Holland in search of opportunity in America. He’s grateful for the ways in which this country has rewarded his family’s hard work
By Josh Jochem Porte
s the airplane landed in New York City, my family and I left behind our fatherland, the Netherlands. When the mainland came into view, we witnessed the Statue of Liberty welcoming us to America. That day, February 11, 1957, would dramatically change the course of our lives. A new language, culture, and opportunity were now the reality and challenge. We embraced our new family mission from day one: to assimilate into the American way of life. There were several reasons why my parents decided to leave their family, friends, and culture behind. My father owned and operated a small grocery store in the town of Heemstede. Even back then, the larger, more efficient grocery stores made it difficult to stay profitable. My parents realized that we either needed to compete on a larger scale or work for a larger grocer, possibly in management. But one day my mother read about the opportunity to immigrate to America. In a matter of months, we completed our application, fulfilled the medical requirements, and were approved to travel to America. We memorialized our immigration journey from Holland to America on a small
tile, where we engraved our names and the departure date.
After we touched down in New York City, we boarded a train that took us to Rochester, New York. We arrived with the clothes on our backs and a few suitcases. We were allowed to ship some of our belongings by container, which didn’t arrive until months later. We were fortunate in that my father’s cousin and his family of nine had immigrated two years earlier. They had rented a large home, which became our home until my father found a job and we got an apartment.
My father, having attended a carpentry-focused vocational school in Holland, gained employment rather quickly. Despite having limited knowledge of the English language, my father knew the language of carpentry. Verbal English came quickly to me at age 12. My brothers were 8 and 9 years younger and learned their English early on in school. While my parents learned to speak English, a thick accent accompanied their English for a lifetime.
At the time of our immigration, it was said that in America the streets were paved with gold. While that was a bit dramatic, America
was paved with opportunity. If you were willing to work, your efforts were rewarded. One day, my parents realized the American dream and purchased their first home, a three-bedroom house with a full bath. They also bought our first car, a 1954 Chevrolet two-door hardtop.
Over the years, our family has made an effort to pay it forward. Some of us served in this nation’s military. I completed a tour in the U.S. Marine Corps in the late ’60s, and my daughter did a tour in the U.S. Navy. We thrived in our communities, and with God’s blessing and good fortune, we continue to do so. All of us are grateful for the opportunities that America has afforded us.
But today, there are serious concerns about the well-being of our nation. The definition of immigration has been altered. Immigration laws are being ignored, and the open borders threaten our nation. It is ironic that those crossing the border and those flown in directly are escaping a lawless system in their home countries, yet they
recreate it upon arrival. As our sustainability and ability to cope with the millions of individuals entering our cities are being threatened, we can only hope and pray that wiser minds will address the deeper issues and reinstate law and order.
My parents, pioneers from Holland, passed away some time ago, my mother at 91 and my father at 101. My siblings and I owe them a debt of gratitude for bringing us to America and providing us with the opportunity to assimilate into the American way of life. We did so in one generation. We boys are all retired and now spend time with our kids and grandkids. We are appreciative of our early pioneers who abided by the immigration laws, resulting in our good fortune. We are truly blessed to be in America.
Why do I love America so much? We have more freedoms, choices, and liberties. And more miracles happen in our country than any other in the world.
God bless America. We need to keep God in the U.S.A.
Why do you love America? What makes it worth celebrating? What moves you about the people and places that make up our country? Tell us in a personal essay of about 600 to 800 words. We welcome you to send your submission to: Editor@AmericanEssenceMag.com
The author with his family and their first car, a 1954 Chevrolet. The author’s family grocery store in Heemstede, The Netherlands.
My Family Roots
Dad’s Wise Words
In her youth, her father’s advice helped her overcome a tough challenge. It taught her a lesson about accountability that still lives with her
By Christina Horton
ince I was a child, I have learned much from my father, Dave Carson. He is not famous. He is not a millionaire. He does not run a Fortune 500 company. But he is a great man. He has worked hard all of his life to do what is right, provide for his family, and help others. He has been a consistent role model to me and to my siblings for our entire lives.
When I was in college, Dad got me a job at the printing company where he was working at the time in Glendale, California. One day while I was there, we had what turned out to be a very important conversation to me. It had to do with the usual challenge for me at that time, which was that I needed more members on my softball team, the Tigers, at the after-school youth organization where both he and I volunteered, the Kare Youth League, and I didn’t know how to get them. Feeling kind of sorry for myself and expecting a sort of pep talk, I expressed my frustration to Dad. Instead of sympathizing, he just straight up told me, “The system you have is perfect for the results you’re getting. If you don’t like your results, you need to change your system.”
“Well. That’s interesting,” I thought. No
“You can do it!” No “Being in charge is really hard, so hang in there.” Just practical, straightforward truth. And as I continued to think about what he said, his point of view seemed not only an interesting way of looking at my situation, but also a profound one, and it initiated a paradigm shift in my thinking. Up to that point, I’m reasonably sure I had been viewing myself as a bit of a victim. “The girls aren’t coming. The fliers we sent out to the schools advertising our program didn’t work. It’s not my fault.” Those were the thoughts that had run through my mind. But Dad’s statement helped me to see that I was copping out. I had decided that there was nothing I could do and had consequently fallen into a “woe is me” mindset. But I was wrong. I could change the current status of the Tigers’ numbers. I would have to do something different—and in my case, probably something more, but still, Dad’s advice ultimately impacted my thinking deeply: Take responsibility. If you really want to change things, you can. Although it didn’t occur to me at the time, as I write now, I realize that, wow, Dad changed systems to change results all the time. From something as simple as
These pages are in the preview.
re-roping a line for cotton candy at a carnival to make it more efficient and workable; to organizing a fundraising banquet at Kare Youth League in such a way that attendance was the highest it had been in years, if not ever; to the important task of completely overhauling the youth league’s summer track meet to make it one of the most well-run, exciting, and fun events of the year, Dad sure set a high bar. Don’t like the results? Change the system. When Dad first introduced me to the idea, it was daunting to look at life that way, but before too long, I came to see that it was also empowering. Daunting because I knew that the more responsibility I took, the more challenging life would become, and I was emphatically not someone who enjoyed
BELOW
The author with her father at a Friday night football game at the high school where she teaches.
challenges. Empowering because it helped me be honest with myself: It stopped me from indulging in the self-deceit that characterizes the unproductive in society who always think it is someone else’s fault for why their lives are disappointing to themselves and others.
Dad’s advice did me a world of good, but not just me, because I am paying it forward. I share his wisdom with students in my English classes, with young people whom I mentor, and with my own children. It is true, some negative circumstances and conditions cannot be changed, but I have learned that many situations, if not most, can be changed, and the application of that knowledge to my life has, to quote one of Dad’s favorite poets, Robert Frost, “made all the difference.” Is there a family member who has positively impacted your life? American Essence invites you to share about your family roots and the lessons passed down from generation to generation. We welcome you to send your submission to: Editor@AmericanEssenceMag.com
LEFT
A current photo of the author and her father.
Kelly LeVeque makes smoothie bowls that balance blood sugar levels by using ingredients high in protein, fat, and fiber instead of loading up on sugar.
The Right Balance
Holistic nutritionist to the stars Kelly LeVeque reveals her wellness routine and diet habits for all-around health
By Hazel Atkins
elly LeVeque always looks for the silver lining.
As a celebrity holistic nutritionist, she spends a lot of time digging into the latest nutrition and metabolic health research and distilling it into information people can easily understand. Often, “our media will take whatever the latest study is and find a scary headline to get readers,” she said. Rather than peddle doom and gloom, she focuses on the good: how easy it is to take action.
Before starting her own health consulting business, Be Well by Kelly, Ms. LeVeque worked in cancer research for Fortune 500 companies. “Not all diseases are preventable, but I was inspired by spending so much time in cancer centers and seeing the benefits of taking care of ourselves and developing holistic habits,” she said. Now, she’s passionate about helping her clients, which have included A-listers like Jessica Alba and Jennifer Garner, do just that.
Her ultimate goal for her clients—and herself— is to make wellness an intrinsic part of daily life, and to see it as a fun adventure. That especially applies to mealtime.
“Every single meal is an opportunity to show up for yourself,” she said. She loves seeing a plate
filled with a rainbow of real, nutritious foods. “How we nourish our bodies really plays a role in how we show up in our lives—mood and temperament, tolerance of stress.”
Ms. LeVeque spoke to American Essence about the easy-to-remember formula she follows for eating well; dealing with “mom guilt” as she balances her business and three young sons; and her research-backed advice for getting picky kids to eat their vegetables.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
I wake up:
around 5:30 to 6 a.m.
My boys are early risers, so I am up early every morning. First, I’ll have a glass of water with electrolytes; I use a high-sodium electrolyte mix with magnesium and potassium. Having electrolytes makes sure you’re fully hydrated, and I tend to drink less caffeine when I’m fully hydrated. Then I’ll have a black coffee or a coconut milk latte.
When it comes to diet:
I’ve always prioritized blood sugar balance. The research there is so robust. We know that dysregulated blood sugar affects mood; it increases your chances of heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and a myriad of other diseases. If we understand the science of blood sugar balance, it’s really easy to implement: Eating whole foods will elongate your blood sugar curve [the changes in your blood glucose level over time].
neurotransmitters, hormones, gut lining, collagen production, and muscle mass. Most women drastically under-eat protein, and they feel it. My fat of choice is avocado. For fiber, I use psyllium, which is great for cholesterol and phenomenal at upping your insoluble fiber intake. I add leafy greens—spinach, kale, romaine, basil—and berries.
One of the principles I live by is the ‘Fab Four’: protein, fat, fiber, and leafy greens or vegetables deep in color [in every meal].
For breakfast, I make a Fab Four smoothie. I’m using a scoop of both of my [Be Well by Kelly] protein powders—a vegan plant-based protein powder and a grass-fed beef protein powder—to get 40 grams of protein. Protein
My lunch and dinner also follow the Fab Four—roast salmon, chicken, roasts with veggies on the side. I never limit the quantity of vegetables.
When I meet my body’s protein requirements and eat real, whole meals, I don’t even think about snacking. It’s counter-intuitive, but if I’m helping a client meet a weight requirement, I’ll have them eat more. Whenever a client has a bad habit of snacking, it’s not about removing those things they’re used to doing; it’s about replacing them.
to show up for yourself. … How we nourish our bodies really plays a role in how we show up in our lives—mood and temperament, tolerance of stress.”
These pages are in the preview.
Kelly
LeVeque, holistic nutritionist
One of Ms. LeVeque’s go-to meals is roast salmon with vegetables.
My best skincare secrets are: sweat and sleep. If you sweat and get good sleep, you see it in your skin.
The more antioxidants in my diet, the more they improve my skin; those are fighting oxidative stress. I try to avoid seed oils because they oxidize under high heat. Those oxidated omega oils become part of your cell membrane.
I do splurge on One Skin products; I’ve noticed a huge improvement in my skin health since using them. I also use a vitamin C product from my dermatologist, and I use a skin brush all over my body.
are not included preview.
“One of the principles I live by is the ‘Fab Four’: protein, fat, fiber, and leafy greens or vegetables deep in color [in every meal].”
Kelly LeVeque
The wellness equipment I swear by are:
my infrared sauna and Peloton. Before kids, I loved going to yoga classes with other people; I love the community aspect. As a mom, carving out that time is hard. I had to become OK with home workouts, and I got a Peloton.
I love my Vitamix. If you get one, you’re investing in something that helps you make healthy food faster.
I also love my red light. I used it on my son when he had eczema; my husband used it for a toe infection. If I’m working on my computer, I turn my panel on.
I use a Yogasleep Dome sound machine in our room and wear a Cozy Earth eye mask. My emotional and mental health depends on whether I’m sleeping well. I have all these screen time limits on my phone, and I can’t get into a single app after 8:30 p.m.
CHARM OLD WORLD
St. Augustine, the oldest city in America, beckons with its picturesque streets, fascinating historical landmarks, and pristine beaches
By Walker Larson
Legend has it that Juan Ponce de León discovered Florida while searching for the Fountain of Youth. While that tale is probably untrue, the lovely southern state certainly feels effervescent with its ocean-scented air and its flourishing, year-round greenery. At least, it feels that way to a Wisconsinite visiting the state after a long winter, which I did this spring, hungry for the promise of warmth and life.
Whether or not he was motivated by the tantalizing tale of water that bestowed unending life, Ponce de León, governor of Puerto Rico and former companion of Columbus, waded ashore on the peninsula around 1513, somewhere near the present-day city of St. Augustine, Florida, the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European origin in the United States. He claimed the land for his king and faith, naming it “La Florida” because he came to it during the Easter season, known in Spain as “pascua florida”—“feast of flowers.”
I, too, arrived in Florida with my wife and daughter during the Easter season. This was our
FAR LEFT
The Spanish Mission-style Cathedral Basilica is the oldest Catholic parish in the country. BELOW
The historic district of the city retains much of the colonial period’s look and feel.
The intricate stylings of Spanish Renaissance architecture inside Flagler College.
The former Hotel Alcazar now serves as the Lightner Museum and St. Augustine’s City Hall.