God Bless America!

A Canadian reflects on travel, friendship, and hospitality—and why personal encounters reveal the real America.

Deacon Mike Walsh

Jul 03, 2026

Welcome to the USA!

By: Deacon Mike Walsh ©

A Lifetime of Crossing the Border

I have always loved the United States.

For most of my professional career, I worked for two large American technology companies. My first job out of university was with Sperry-Univac, one of the pioneers of the mainframe era. In those days, a 100 MB hard drive came in a cabinet the size of a washing machine and cost tens of thousands of dollars.

I later worked for a young Silicon Valley company called Sun Microsystems.

Based just outside San Francisco, Sun gave me the opportunity to travel frequently to one of the most beautiful parts of the world. On several occasions, my family was able to join me, creating memories that have lasted a lifetime.

Buffalo, Bills, and Family Traditions

As a young family, there was nothing better than loading up the car and spending a weekend in Buffalo. A comfortable hotel with a pool, great restaurants, and shopping that seemed endless. From the Walden Galleria Mall to the ever-expanding outlet centers, there was always something new to discover.

That tradition continues to this day.

For the past fifteen years or so, my now-grown son and I have headed down the highway each season to join the Buffalo Bills fans for one of the most remarkable tailgate experiences in professional sports.

Since 2018, when Josh Allen became the Bills’ starting quarterback, we have also had the added pleasure of watching the Bills actually win more than a few games. The football is great, but what keeps us coming back is the sense of community and hospitality that surrounds it.

Today, my family still looks forward to heading to Florida each winter for a much-needed break from our Canadian winters. I’m not entirely sure our winters are getting colder—it just seems that way.

While in Florida, we attend several Catholic parishes.

At one parish we frequent, there is a moving moment near the end of Mass when ministers who will bring Holy Communion to the sick and home-bound are called forward and formally commissioned before the congregation.

As they are sent out, I am reminded of the early Church, when the dismissal was more than the end of a liturgy—it was a mission. The Eucharist was carried beyond the gathered community to those unable to be present.

In a very real sense, the Church's ancient call to "Go in Peace" continues today as Christ is brought to those waiting to receive him.

FIFA and Buc-ee’s: A Different Story Emerging

What got me thinking recently has been the growing number of social media videos posted by visitors attending FIFA Club World Cup events in the United States.

One of the most entertaining has been Freddy, a young German soccer fan whose videos documenting his travels across America have attracted millions of views. Unfortunately for Freddy, the dream of World Cup glory came to an end when Germany suffered an unexpected first-round elimination.

One of those experiences Freddy documented was discovering Buc-ee’s. To Canadians, it might sound like a gas station. In reality, it is something much more.

Freddy, a German travel influencer, reacts to the massive Buc-ee's travel centre during his road trip across America.

Three years ago, our own family made its first pilgrimage to Buc-ee’s while travelling through the southern United States. Like Freddy, we quickly realized that calling Buc-ee’s a gas station is like calling Niagara Falls a water fountain. The place was enormous, the food was surprisingly good, and the selection seemed endless.

It was also the first time we heard the famous announcement, “Brisket on the Board!” Suddenly, those words echoed throughout the store, signaling that a fresh batch of brisket sandwiches and biscuits had arrived. People moved toward the food counters with purpose.

Only in America could a gas station announcement become a tourist attraction.

German traveller Freddy shares a story of American kindness after a hotel receptionist drives him to a soccer stadium during a rainstorm.

In one widely shared video, Freddy and his friends were facing a long walk through the rain to avoid the cost of an Uber ride. A hotel receptionist took pity on them and personally drove them to the stadium. It was a simple act of kindness, but one that clearly left an impression.

Freddy’s videos are filled with similar moments of surprise and delight. He marvels at the size of things, the friendliness of strangers, and experiences that seem uniquely American.

They marveled at the sheer scale of America. Distances are greater. Cars are bigger. Everything appears supersized.

But what struck many visitors most was not the size of things. . .

The Americans we Encounter

. . . It was the people.

Again and again, travelers posted videos expressing surprise at how friendly, welcoming, and helpful ordinary Americans had been. Strangers offered directions. Servers took time to chat.

People went out of their way to make visitors feel at home.

When we travel to Florida each year by car, I am always struck by how often, after picking up a meal at a drive-through or checking out at a grocery store, someone smiles and says, "Have a blessed day."

It is a small gesture, but one that speaks volumes about the warmth and friendliness we so often encounter.

A Friendship Worth Celebrating

As Canada and the United States continue their occasionally complicated relationship, perhaps there is a lesson here. We often form opinions about entire nations through politics, headlines, and social media.

Yet countries are ultimately made up of people, and most people are far kinder than the caricatures we create about them.

As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, it is worth recognizing not only its achievements, innovations, and influence on the world, but also the millions of ordinary citizens whose generosity and neighborliness continue to shape the country’s character.

So from one Canadian: