Happy Birthday America!

The sheer poetry of who we are and what our country represents is of historical proportions. Commemorate this day remembering our past, celebrating our present and building a healthy, prosperous future. Happy 4^th of July!

"America the Beautiful"

Written by Katharine Lee Bates,

Melody by Samuel Ward

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 of 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 their 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 stem 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! 

Celebrating Labor Day!

Labor Day, which is celebrated on the first Monday in September, is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. This annual national tribute is recognized for the contributions that U.S. workers made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country

The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From them developed the movement to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year, four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories. (United States Department of Labor, 2011)

Let’s celebrate Labor Day by remembering and thanking those who came before us and paved the way to the prosperity, strength and well-being of our country. Happy Labor Day everyone!

Happy Veterans Day 2010

Today we are celebrating Veterans Day, which is also known as Armistice Day. Veteran’s Day is typically celebrated on November 11th and was first incorporated by President Wilson as Armistice Day in 1919. Other countries still recognize November 11th as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in honor of the Armistice treaty, which ended World War I. In 1954, Congress changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day.

To all of our veterans near and far, retired or still on active duty, regardless of which war you fought in, we not only honor you for your service today, but every day. If it wasn’t for your patriotism to serve your country, we would not have the freedoms we enjoy today. Thank you and may God continue to bless you and your family.

My Challenge To You On This 2010 Independence Day!

As we embark on this traditional day in July when we celebrate our independence, let’s take a brief trip down memory lane about the real story behind our 4th of July celebration.

Independence Day, or the 4th of July as we refer to it here in the United States, is a federal holiday that commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress, on July 4, 1776. The Declaration announced that the 13 American Colonies (Maine - then part of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, Georgia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island), were no longer a part of the British Empire and are now independent states.

There is so much to be proud of in this great country of ours and we must be ever so mindful to never take our freedom, which so many fought and died for, for granted. With that in mind, it is very painful to realize that so many Americans do not know some of the basic allegiances and tributes to our country. On this day, if you do not know any of the following, I urge all of you to learn these and many other historical facts that shaped the United States into the great country it is today.

Pledge of Allegience (an oath of loyalty to the national flag and the republic of the United States of America, originally composed by Francis Bellamy in 1892. It should be recited while standing at attention with the right hand over the heart; military personnel must salute.) http://www.ushistory.org/documents/pledge.htm.

My Country Tis of Thee (Song) http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh697.sht.

Oh Beautiful (Song) http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/b/obfsskis.htm.

The Star Spangled Banner (Song) http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/spangle.htm.

How can we expect others to respect our country if we don’t know it’s history and respect it ourselves! So today, empower yourself! Stand tall and be proud!

May God continue to strengthen us as a united people and may we continue to pray for the truths that united us as a Christian-founded nation, based on strong Biblical principles that we need to get back on track with today! God bless all of you!

HAPPY 4th of JULY Everyone!

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HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

Memorial Day, a holiday in the United States observed in late May. Previously designated Decoration Day, it was inaugurated in 1868 by Gen. John A. Logan for the purpose of decorating the graves of Civil War veterans and has since become a day on which all war dead are commemorated. (The Columbia Encyclopedia. Copyright © 2001-09 Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.)

We are so blessed in the United States to have the freedoms that we have because of the service men and women, who took an oath and risked their lives to fight for our country. Although memorial means to commemorate, let’s not just honor those veterans who died, but to celebrate the lives of those who still continue to fight for and defend The United States of America!

So during your cookouts and other festivities, remember to celebrate responsibly! Peace & Blessings everyone!

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!