Tomorrow is Independence Day, the 4th of July, & for me this day means spending time with my family & sometimes friends, partaking in delicious food, enjoying each others company, & then after the evening has come, watching the brightly shining fireworks display that flashes over the corn fields near my Grandfather's home. But Independence Day means so much more. It represents the past, present, & the future of our nation. The trials & the joys we have persevered to overcome through the years. The pains & sorrows that have been brought to families to retain the freedom we so cherish & desire. Our past defines our future. Mr. Winston Churchill once said: "The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see." I believe he was entirely correct. If we do not know of our past, then we are not prepared for the future.
Below are two pieces, one of poetry, the other of music, that speak very well in my opinion of Independence Day.
Thou, too, sail on, O Ship of State!
Sail on, O Union, strong and great!
Humanity with all its fears,
With all the hopes of future years,
Is hanging breathless on the fate!
We know what Master laid the keel,
What Workmen wrought thy ribs of steel,
Who made each mast, and sail, and rope,
What anvils rang, what hammers beat,
In what forge and what a heat
Were shaped the anchors of thy hope!
Fear not each sudden sound and shock,
'Tis of the wave and not the rock;
'Tis but the flapping of the sail,
And not a rent made by the gale!
In spite of rock and tempest's roar,
In spite of false lights on the shore,
Sail on, nor fear to breast the sea!
Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee,
Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears,
Our faith triumphant o'er our fears,
Are all with thee, - are all with thee!
From The Republic from "The Building of the Ship"
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
I have heard how Christians long ago
Were brought before a tyrant's throne
And they were told that he would spare their lives
If they would renounce the name of Christ
But one by one they chose to die
The Son of God they would not deny
Like a great angelic choir sings
I can almost hear their voices ring
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength
With all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
Now the years have come and the years have gone
But the cause of Jesus still goes on
And now our time has come to count the cost
To reject this world, to embrace the cross
And one by one let us live our lives
For the One who died to give us life
Till the trumpet sounds on the final day
Let us proudly stand and boldly say
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength
With all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
To the Lamb of God who bore my pain
Who took my place, who wore my shame
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
Lyrics from I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb.
God bless to everyone & their families,
Sarah Grace
