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The visionary
force behind Celebration USA and the annual National
School Celebration is Paula Burton.
Celebration USA
had its origins in a California classroom when Paula became dismayed
by her students' apathy when they recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
One day she wrote the word indivisible on the board and asked for a
definition. The response? "You can't see it!" This started
Paula's educational campaign to teach students to understand the
words of the Pledge and, thereby, develop pride in being American.
She discovered that the Pledge had been written for a National School
Celebration, a patriotic observance held in 1892, complete with a
presidential proclamation. She developed manuals and music that
evolved into a series of curriculum that were eventually distributed
to many school districts in the country. Her ongoing efforts consist
of the distribution of 12,000 professionally
recorded CDs to be sent to every public school in California in
the Spring of 2001. Selections include The Pledge of Allegiance Song,
The Constitution Lives, Bill of Rights Song, a Military Medley, Folk
Song Medley, and other original patriotic numbers.
Celebration USA, a
non-profit corporation, not only oversees the development of these
materials, but also sponsors the "Catch
the Spirit!" Singers, who have performed for major
political and community events throughout California and on four
occasions, represented California at the Independence Day Parade in
Washington, D.C. Celebration USA's activities have been praised by
Presidents Bush and Clinton, Secretary of State, Colin Powell, and
chronicled in USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County
Register, and other publications.
Paula, a Dutch
immigrant whose parents were aided by Americans during the Nazi
occupation of Holland, immigrated to the United States with her
parents and brother at the age of nine years. Her dream of being a
public school teacher became a reality after she won a four-year
scholarship and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary
Education from Brigham Young University. Paula has taught all grade
levels, including ESL (English as a second language,) and special
education classes.
While Paula's four
children, Brady, Greg, Brandi, and Jeff, attended public schools, she
served continuously for twenty years in various offices of the PTA
and other school, church, and community organizations. Her husband,
Bruce, is a retired Fire Captain for the city of Huntington Beach,
California, and is proud and supportive of the work she has undertaken.
She has received
numerous school and community group awards through the years for her
tireless work and services. These awards include:
*Community Service
Award - 1985
*DAR
"Americanism" Award - 1993
*Paul Harris
Fellow Award from the Orange Rotary Club - 1994
*George Washington
Honor Medal from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge - 1993 and 1994
*California 71st
Assembly District's "1994 Woman of the Year"
*Clara Barton
Spectrum Award for Outstanding Women in Orange County - 1994
*SAR
"Appreciation" Award - 1997
*Performing group
recommended by Governor Pete Wilson to represent the state of
California in the 4th of July, Independence Day Parade in
Washington, D.C., - 1995 - 1997 - 1999 - 2000
*National Society
of SAR, Martha Washington Medal - 2000 |
