Posted on 06/14/2006 2:02:56 PM PDT by Steve Newton
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife.
Who more than self the country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!
O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America ! America !
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!
O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life !
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!
Thanks for posting this link devolve, very interesting.
Little Stitches:
When I was a kid, used to walk to the movie house. I'd look at the flag on the courthouse square. I always remember how good it made me feel. My feelings actually went beyond just a good, warm felling, the sight of that flag made me feel safe, and loved. That flag has always made me feel that way.
The sight of that flag always made me think that I could do anything, and so many times it proved my feelings right. I used to take down the flag at our house when I was a kid. I remember feeling the little stitches and thinking that it is a piece of many cloths, sewn together by delicate thread. But, when it was all together it was a symbol of the greatest love, and the greatest strength this world has ever seen. I remember thinking that as long as I could see that flag, I would always be home.
When I was a young lad of 19 years I net half way around the world to fight a war for that flag, and all that it stood for. I was scared, and I was lonely, till I saw that flag, then I was home. I was eating dinner with my family, I was kissing my girl goodnight, I was looking at the stars in my backyard. As we left base camp for 3 weeks on patrol I stood silent and still for a moment, looking at that flag. A tear came to my eye, and a prayer to my lips..."God, make me good enough to die for my country if I must, and make me good enough to live for it if I can".
Well, He must have had a higher purpose for me, because here I am, typing this. Today I raised that flag, just after dawn, I took it in my hands and looked at those little stitches that hold together those pieces of cloth. I had a shutter of life run up my spine, and a tear come to my eye. A great banner of many cloths held together by those little stitches. That flag protects me, and my family. It makes us safe, it brings us home, it gives us comfort, it binds us together and makes us one. Those little stitches holding together those pieces of varied cloth, they bring me home and protect me.
As my flag took it's first breath of the morning breeze it snapped and started flying, proudly in that breeze. I felt so safe standing there under it. It was shouting it's defiance against enemies, it was waving it's call of unity and freedom for all Americans. It reminded me that I was a part of the greatest thing that mankind has ever done. I could almost hear those little stitches say..."We hold these pieces of cloth together, and we'll do it as long as it takes. When we are done, and we can't do it anymore there will be more of us to do this thing again, and again, and again". These are little stitches that keep our nation together. They are you and me, they are Patriots that serve this nation in combat, they are your neighbors, they are Freepers, and the Robinsons, and all the "faithful" that believe in liberty. Even your crazy cousin. We're all little stitches that hold together the pieces of cloth that make this nation. When we see that flag those little stitches, are us.
Timy
net=went
Beautiful. What can I say, tim? God bless you, God bless me, God bless each one of us, and forever bless this land of ours, dear Lord.
Timy
OUTSTANDING
Just outstanding.
Steve Newton
Always brings a tear
Steve
Thanks for this informative article.
Thank you my friend.
I learned some things myself
Steve Newton
Had a new one come up on Flag Etiquette. Once you think you have seen everything.
A very nice lady is cutting the stars off of Flags and sending them to the troops for they can have a piece of the Flag with them always.
The rest of the Flag is honorable destroyed.
It took me a while to think about this one but I finally came to the conclusion this was a wonderful way to use a Flag that has served.
Comments?
Steve Newton
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.