Give Thanks....or .....Happy Thanksgiving

In America we are so blessed that in order to

communicate accurately

how blessed we really are.....

it would be an 'impossible' undertaking ....

Then, again, there are no words in some cases, that

can genuinely articulate the blessings of our land.

From the dusty pages of the past this task was

attempted by the writer of our song....

America, My Country 'Tis of Thee...

There are verses in it that I have never,

ever read or heard in my entire life....

some are so applicable to our life now in 2006.

Be sure and read versus 4 thru 8 as you

dust off these words from 1832

and look at the gold underneath...

America....I Give Thanks for YOU!

America
by Rev. Samuel F. Smith

My country, 'tis of Thee,

Sweet Land of Liberty

Of thee I sing;

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims' pride,

From every mountain side

Let Freedom ring.

My native country, thee,

Land of the noble free,

Thy name I love;

I love thy rocks and rills,

Thy woods and templed hills,

My heart with rapture thrills

Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,

And ring from all the trees

Sweet Freedom's song;

Let mortal tongues awake;

Let all that breathe partake;

Let rocks their silence break,

The sound prolong.

Our fathers' God to Thee,

Author of Liberty,

To thee we sing,

Long may our land be bright

With Freedom's holy light,

Protect us by thy might

Great God, our King.

Our glorious Land to-day,

'Neath Education's sway,

Soars upward still.

Its hills of learning fair,

Whose bounties all may share,

Behold them everywhere

On vale and hill!

Thy safeguard, Liberty,

The school shall ever be,

Our Nation's pride!

No tyrant hand shall smite,

While with encircling might

All here are taught the Right

With Truth allied.

Beneath Heaven's gracious will

The stars of progress still

Our course do sway;

In unity sublime

To broader heights we climb,

Triumphant over Time,

God speeds our way!

Grand birthright of our sires,

Our altars and our fires

Keep we still pure!

Our starry flag unfurled,

The hope of all the world,

In peace and light impearled,

God hold secure

God Bless America.......