America at 250

Our son Caleb will graduate from the University of Central Missouri (UCM) this December. He’s majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Music, playing trumpet in UCM’s Wind Ensemble. Last spring, the ensemble hosted composer Viet Cuong as a visiting conductor.

One of Cuong’s pieces, John and Jim, was commissioned by the Columbus Pride Bands and the Queen City Freedom Band for the 2024 Pride Bands Alliance Annual Conference. It honors Ohioans Jim Obergefell and John Arthur, whose love helped bring marriage equality to the nation.

After more than twenty years together, Arthur was diagnosed with ALS. As his condition worsened, the couple traveled to Maryland—where same‑sex marriage was legal—to marry on the tarmac next to the medical transport plane. Arthur died three months later. When Ohio refused to list Obergefell as his surviving spouse, Jim sued. His case, Obergefell v. Hodges, led the Supreme Court to recognize marriage equality nationwide.

Cuong built John and Jim on Pachelbel’s Canon in D—the music I walked down the aisle to—but transformed it into the wedding music Jim and John were denied. It’s a reminder of how beauty, grief, and justice can meet in a single story.

As America marks its 250th birthday this weekend, it feels right to remember what America has been, what it is, and what we hope it can still become: A place where dignity, compassion, and joy are allowed to flourish.

Holy One, Thank You for the stories that teach us courage, the music that opens our hearts, and the love that insists on justice. As we celebrate our nation’s 250 years, guide us toward the America we long for—one where every person is welcomed, protected, and cherished. Bless our community at Peace, that we may continue to listen deeply, serve boldly, and love without hesitation. Amen.

Michelle is a wife, mother, sister, and friend, a chocolate and coffee lover, reader of books, listener of podcasts, and a travel enthusiast.