MY TURN: The Fourth of July
O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light
A nation's spirit ablaze, in stars shining bright
With hearts held high and flags waving wide
We celebrate the Fourth, our nation's pride!
From sea to shining sea, from coast to coast
A land of dreams, where freedom's toast
In the land of the brave, where eagles soar
We gather as one, united evermore
On this hallowed day, let freedom ring
As we honor the birth of a nation, we sing!
The red, white and blue, in their glory unfurled
Symbolize the values that unite our world
With every firework burst, a memory ignites
Of those who fought for liberty's rights
In battles waged and sacrifices made
Their bravery forever in our hearts portrayed
From the Founding Fathers' righteous pens
The Declaration of Independence, freedom's lens,
"We hold these truths to be self-evident," they wrote,
That all are created equal, a belief that still floats
We cherish the legacy they bestowed
In the pursuit of happiness, our paths are sowed
The spirit of America, resilient and bold
In the face of adversity, it never grows old
On this day, let us remember the brave
Who fought and perished, their lives they gave
From Bunker Hill to Gettysburg's field
To Normandy's shores, where heroes revealed
Their sacrifices we'll never forget
For in their courage, our nation is set
From the shores of freedom, our light shines afar
A beacon of hope, guided by liberty's star
As fireworks burst and light up the night
We stand together, our spirits alight
A tapestry of cultures, diverse and strong
In unity we stand, where we all belong
So, let us celebrate, with joy and cheer
The Fourth of July, a day held dear
In America's embrace, we proudly stand
United we thrive, hand in hand
O beautiful for spacious skies
For amber waves of grain
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America, land of the free, home of the brave
May our spirit endure, steadfast and unwavering
On this Fourth of July, let us cherish our land
And honor the ideals that make us grand
God bless America, forever we'll be
A land of hope, a beacon for all to see
On this Independence Day, let freedom ring
And let our patriotic hearts forever sing!
• • •
Michael Paul is a Post Falls resident.