EARTH DAY 2010 : STEWARDSHIP OF OUR PLANET..........

On April 22, 1970, I was an 8th Grader at Charles M. Goethe Junior High School in South Sacramento. Shortly after the homeroom bell rang at 8:40 am, my teacher instructed us about the focus of the day, a newly coined international observance declared, "Earth Day". After the brief classroom introduction, all grades proceeded out to the entrance of the campus on Tamoshanter Avenue. Gathered on the lawn and sidewalk in silence. Our attention was requested eastward toward 24th Street, where we saw a black hearse turn onto Tamoshanter Avenue as it approached the school with a casket riding inside. As the coach stopped and parked in front of the school and the supposed funeral directors walked to the back of the hearse we could see a banner hanging atop the hearse's back door reading, "Nasty SMOG". We were assembled for the funeral of the deceased, the corrosive, Mr. Smog.....That was the creative way we were introduced to the themes and purposes of, EARTH DAY, which today marks its 40th Anniversary. As Catholic-Christians we are entrusted by the Divine with responsibility for the stewardship of Creation. Earth Day is our societal way of expressing and concretizing our commitment to preserving our environment and eliminating the elements of destruction that threaten to waste our heritage..........A WORK IN PROGRESS.....TO BE CONTINUED.....fr.tdp