Independence Day 2011 -

Happy Independence Day 2011!! Happy 235th birthday America!

"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 impassion'd stress,

A thoroughfare for freedom beat

Across the wilderness!

America! America! God mend thine ev'ry 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 ev'ry 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!"

~ Penned by: Katharine Lee Bates in 1913~

July 4th 2010 here. ~ July 4th 2009 here.