O Columbia, the gem of the ocean, The home of the brave and the free, The shrine of each patriot's devotion, A world offers homage to thee. Thy mandates make heroes assemble When Liberty's form stands in view; Thy banners make tyranny tremble When borne by the red, white and blue, When borne by the red, white and blue, When borne by the red, white and blue, Thy banners make tyranny tremble When borne by the red, white and blue. When war winged its wide desolation And threatened the land to deform, The ark then of freedom's foundation, Columbia, rode safe thro' the storm: With the garlands of vict'ry around her, When so proudly she bore her brave crew, With her flag proudly floating before her, The boast of the red, white and blue, The boast of the red, white and blue, The boast of the red, white and blue, With her flag proudly floating before her, The boast of the red, white and blue. The star-spangled banner bring hither, O'er Columbia's true sons let it wave; May the wreaths they have won never wither, Nor its stars cease to shine on the brace: May the service, united, ne'er sever, But hold to their colors so true; The army and navy forever, Three cheers for the red, white and blue, Three cheers for the red, white and blue, Three cheers for the red, white and blue, The army and navy forever. Three cheers for the red, white and blue.

Have you been to the Wall in the light of the day, As the sun beams its rays on this maudlin display? ‘Tis a tomb for the dreams and the hopes of the boys, Who barely were finished with high jinks and toys. They are children of those who are bearing the scar, Of the loved ones they lost in the previous war. They are husbands, and brothers, and fathers and sons, Who lost all at the point of the enemies gun. Have you been to the Wall in the dark of the night? Can you hear voices echo in sorrow and fright? A father or mother in anguish will cry, As they deal with the fragments of wondering why. And all who have fallen in stone are enshrined, Living on in the memory of those left behind. What number of battles will have to be won, To warrant the loss of a brother or son?

Though other lands may boast of skies Far deeper in their blue, Where flowers in Eden's pristine dyes, Bloom with a richer hue; And other nations pride in kings, And worship lordly powers; Yet every voice of nature sings, There is no land like ours. Though other scenes than such as grace Our forests, fields, and plains, May lend the earth a sweeter face Where peace incessant reigns; But dearest still to me the land Where sunshine cheers the hours, For God hath shown, with his own hand, There is no land like ours! Though other streams may softer flow In vales of classic bloom, And rivers clear as crystal glow, That wear no tinge of gloom; Though other mountains lofty look, And grand seem olden towers, We see, as in an open book, There is no land like ours! Though other nations boast of deeds That live in old renown, And other peoples cling to creeds That coldly on us frown; On pure religion, love, and law Are based our ruling powers -- The world but feels, with wondering awe, There is no land like ours! Though other lands may boast their brave, Whose deeds are writ in fame, Their heroes ne'er such glory gave As gilds our country's name; Though others rush to daring deeds, Where the darkening war-cloud lowers, Here, each alike for freedom bleeds -- There is no land like ours! Though other lands Napoleon And Wellington adorn, America, her Washington, And later heroes born; Yet Johnston, Jackson, Price, and Lee, Bragg, Buckner, Morgan towers, With Beauregard, and Hood, and Bee -- There is no land like ours!

When Johnny comes marching home again, Hurrah! hurrah! We'll give him a hearty welcome then, Hurrah! hurrah! The men will cheer, the boys will shout, The ladies, they will all turn out, And we'll all feel gay, When Johnny comes marching home. The old church-bell will peal with joy, Hurrah! hurrah! To welcome home our darling boy, Hurrah! hurrah! The village lads and lasses say, With roses they will strew the way; And we'll all feel gay, When Johnny comes marching home. Get ready for the jubilee, Hurrah! hurrah! We'll give the hero three times three, Hurrah! hurrah! The laurel-wreath is ready now To place upon his loyal brow, And we'll all feel gay, When Johnny comes marching home. Let love and friendship on that day, Hurrah! hurrah! Their choicest treasures then display, Hurrah! hurrah! And let each one perform some part, To fill with joy the warrior's heart; And we'll all feel gay, When Johnny comes marching home.

There was a tumult in the city In the quaint old Quaker town, And the streets were rife with people Pacing restless up and down -- People gathering at corners, Where they whispered each to each, And the sweat stood on their temples With the earnestness of speech. As the bleak Atlantic currents Lash the wild Newfoundland shore, So they beat against the State House, So they surged against the door; And the mingling of their voices Made the harmony profound, Till the quiet street of Chestnut Was all turbulent with sound. "Will they do it?" "Dare they do it?" "Who is speaking?" "What's the news?" "What of Adams?" "What of Sherman?" "Oh, God grant they won't refuse!" "Make some way there!" "Let me nearer!" "I am stifling!" "Stifle then! When a nation's life's at hazard, We've no time to think of men!" So they surged against the State House, While all solemnly inside, Sat the Continental Congress, Truth and reason for their guide, O'er a simple scroll debating, Which, though simple it might be, Yet should shake the cliffs of England With the thunders of the free. Far aloft in that high steeple Sat the bellman, old and gray, He was weary of the tyrant And his iron-sceptered sway; So he sat, with one hand ready On the clapper of the bell, When his eye could catch the signal, The long-expected news to tell. See! See! The dense crowd quivers Through all its lengthy line, As the boy beside the portal Hastens forth to give the sign! With his little hands uplifted, Breezes dallying with his hair, Hark! with deep, clear intonation, Breaks his young voice on the air. Hushed the people's swelling murmur, Whilst the boy crys joyously; "Ring!" he shouts, "Ring! Grandpapa, Ring! oh, ring for Liberty!" Quickly, at the given signal The old bellman lifts his hand, Forth he sends the goods news, making Iron music through the land. How they shouted! What rejoicing! How the old bell shook the air, Till the clang of freedom ruffled, The calmly gliding Delaware! How the bonfires and the torches Lighted up the night's repose, And from the flames, like fabled Phoenix, Our glorious liberty arose! That old State House bell is silent, Hushed is now its clamorous tongue; But the spirit it awakened Still is living -- ever young; And when we greet the smiling sunlight On the fourth of each July, We will ne'er forget the bellman Who, betwixt the earth and sky, Rung out, loudly, "Independence"; Which, please God, shall never die!

There's a graveyard near the White House Where the Unknown Soldier lies, And the flowers there are sprinkled With the tears from mother's eyes. I stood there not so long ago With roses for the brave, And suddenly I heard a voice Speak from out the grave: "I am the Unknown Soldier," The spirit voice began, "And I think I have the right To ask some questions man to man. "Are my buddies taken care of? Was their victory so sweet? Is that big reward you offered Selling pencils on the street? "Did they really win the freedom They battled to achieve? Do you still respect that Croix de Guerre Above that empty sleeve? "Does a gold star in the window Now mean anything at all? I wonder how my old girl feels When she hears a bugle call. "And that baby who sang 'Hello, Central, give me no man Can they replace her daddy With a military band? "I wonder if the profiteers Have satisfied their greed? I wonder if a soldier's mother Ever is in need? "I wonder if the kings, who planned it all Are really satisfied? They played their game of checkers And eleven million died. "I am the Unknown Soldier And maybe I died in vain, But if I were alive and my country called, I'd do it all over again."

How shall we honor them, our Deathless Dead? With strew of laurel and the stately tread? With blaze of banners brightening overhead? Nay, not alone these cheaper praises bring: They will not have this easy honoring. How shall we honor them, our Deathless Dead? How keep their mighty memories alive? In him who feels their passion, they survive! Flatter their souls with deeds, and all is said!

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe; To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

Contributed by Richard Tennesen - Capitola, CA
Note: The author of this poem, a member of the First Canadian contingent, died in France onJanuary 28, 1918, after four years of service on the Western Front - Richard.

What flower is this that greets the morn, Its hues from Heaven so freshly born? With burning star and flaming band It kindles all the sunset land: Oh tell us what the name may be -- Is this the Flower of Liberty? It is the banner of the free, The starry Flower of Liberty! In savage Nature's far abode Its tender seed our fathers sowed; The storm-winds rocked its swelling bud, Its opening leaves were streaked with blood, Till lo! earth's tyrants shook to see The full-blown Flower of Liberty! Then hail the banner of the free, The starry Flower of Liberty! Behold its streaming rays unite, One mingling flood of braided light The red that fires the Southern rose, With spotless white from Northern snows, And, spangled o'er its azure, see The sister Stars of Liberty! Then hail the banner of the free, The starry Flower of Liberty! The blades of heroes fence it round, Where'er it springs is holy ground; From tower and dome its glories spread; It waves where lonely sentries tread; It makes the land as ocean free, And plants an empire on the sea! Then hail the banner of the free, The starry Flower of Liberty! Thy sacred leaves, fair Freedom's flower, Shall ever float on dome and tower, To all their heavenly colors true, In blackening frost or crimson dew, And God love us as we love thee, Thrice holy Flower of Liberty! Then hail the banner of the free, The starry Flower of Liberty!

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain [George III] is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world. He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained, and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within. He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands. He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers. He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance. He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies, without the consent of our legislatures. He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power. He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to ourconstitution and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Actsof pretended Legislation: For protecting them by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States: For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: For depriving us in many cases of the benefits of Trial by Jury: For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences: For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies: For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments: For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. He has abdicated Government here by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us. He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation. He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms. Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends. We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare. That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor. The signers of the Declaration represented the new States as follows: New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton Massachusetts: John Hancock, Samual Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery Connecticut: Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott New York: William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris New Jersey: Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross Delaware: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean Maryland: Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton Virginia: George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson,Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton North Carolina: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn South Carolina: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

"In questions of power, then, let no more be said of confidence in man,but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution." - Thomas Jefferson "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporarysafety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Benjamin Franklin "I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom ofthe people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than byviolent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison "I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, toomany parasites living on the labor of the industrious." - Thomas Jefferson Letter to William Ludlow, 1824 "In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men thegreat difficulty lies in this: You must first enable the government tocontrol the governed, and in the next place, oblige it to control itself." - Alexander Hamilton The Federalist; Feb.8, 1788 "No government is respectable which is not just. Without unspottedpurity of public faith, without sacred public principle, fidelity, andhonor, no machinery of laws, can give dignity to political society." - Daniel Webster "I have no fear that the result of our experiment will be that men maybe trusted to govern themselves without a master." - Thomas Jefferson Letter to David Hartley; 1787 "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity,religion and morality are indispensable supports. It is impossible torightly govern the world without God and the Bible." - George Washington "Our ancestors established their system of government on morality andreligious sentiment. Moral habits, they believed, cannot safely beentrusted on any other foundation than religious principle, not anygovernment secure which is not supported by moral habits.... Whatever makesmen good Christians, makes them good citizens." - Daniel Webster "The highest glory of the American Revolution was this; it connected, inone indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with theprinciples of Christianity." - John Quincy Adams "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this greatnation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not onreligions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ! For this very reason peoplesof other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom ofworship here." - Patrick Henry "We have staked the future of all of our political institutions upon thecapacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each and allof us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselvesaccording to the Ten Commandments of God." - James Madison, chief architect of the Constitution "The moral principles and precepts contained in the Scripture ought toform the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws. All the miseriesand evil men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression,slavery, and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the preceptscontained in the Bible." - Noah Webster "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state ofcivilization, it expects what never was and never will be." - Thomas Jefferson "No free man shall ever be de-barred the use of arms. The strongestreason for the people to retain their right to keep and bear arms is as alast resort to protect themselves against tyranny in government." - Thomas Jefferson "The said constitution shall never be construed to authorize congress toprevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens fromkeeping their own arms." - Samuel Adams "The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able mayhave a gun." - Patrick Henry "Americans need never fear their government because of the advantage ofbeing armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost everyother nation." - James Madison "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price ofchains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! - I know not what courseothers may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" - Patrick Henry "To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the peoplealways possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to usethem." - Richard Henry Lee Founding Father "We have no government armed with power capable of contending with humanpassions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, orgallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whalegoes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral andreligious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other." - John Adams, Oct. 11, 1798 Address to the military "Delay is preferable to error." - Thomas Jefferson "Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its beststage, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one." - Thomas Paine Common Sense; 1776 "Character is much easier kept than recovered." - Thomas Paine The American Crisis, no. 13; 1783 "Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants." - William Penn "The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whetherAmericans are to be freemen or slaves; whether they are to have anyproperty they can call their own; whether their houses and farms are to bepillaged and destroyed, and themselves consigned to a state of wretchednessfrom which no human efforts will deliver them. The fate of unborn millionswill now depend on God, on the courage and conduct of this army. Our crueland unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of brave resistance, or themost abject submission. We have, therefore, to resolve to conquer or die." - George Washington; 1776 "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and thesunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of theircountry; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man andwoman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have thisconsolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious thetriumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly. Heaven knows howto put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed, if socelestial an article as Freedom should not be highly rated." - Thomas Paine; 1776 "If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitudebetter than the animating contest of freedom... go home from us in peace.We ask not your counsels nor arms. May your chains set lightly upon you andmay posterity forget that ye were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams; 1776 "No man can suffer too much, and no man can fall too soon, if he sufferor if he fall in defense of the liberties and Constitution of his country." - Daniel Webster "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations becomecorrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." - Benjamin Franklin "Good government generally begins in the family, and if the moralcharacter of a people once degenerate, their political character must soonfollow." - Elias Boudinot, president of the Continental Congress, later acongressman from NJ, and president of the American Bible Society "A general dissolution of the principles and manners will more surelyoverthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the commonenemy.... While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but oncethey lose their virtue, they will be ready to surrender their liberties tothe first external or internal invader.... If virtue and knowledge arediffused among the people, they will never be enslaved. This will be theirgreat security." - Samuel Adams "God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nationbe thought secure if we have removed their only firm basis: a conviction inthe minds of men that these liberties are the gift of God? That they arenot to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my countrywhen I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever." - Thomas Jefferson "He is the best friend to American liberty, who is most sincere andactive in promoting true and undefiled religion, and who set himself withthe greatest firmness to bear down on profanity and immorality of everykind. Whoever is an avowed enemy of God, I scruple not to call him an enemyto his country." - John Witherspoon, the only clergyman in the Continental Congress "Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among thepeople, who have...a right, an indisputable, unalienable, indefeasible,divine right to that most dreaded and envied kind of knowledge, I mean thecharacters and conduct of their rulers." - John Adams "Providence has given our people the choice of their rulers, and it isthe duty, as well as privilege and interest, of a Christian nation toselect and prefer Christians for their rulers." - John Jay, first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, one of threemen most responsible for our Constitution "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." - William Penn; Thomas Jefferson's personal seal "A Bible and a newspaper in every house, a good school in every district- all studied and appreciated as they merit - are the principle support ofvirtue, morality, and civil liberty." - Benjamin Franklin; March 1778 "Hold on, my friends, to the Constitution and to the Republic for whichit stands. Miracles do not cluster and what has happened once in 6,000years, may not happen again. Hold on to the Constitution, for if theAmerican Constitution should fail, there will be anarchy throughout theworld." - Daniel Webster, 1851 "Liberty exists in proportion to wholesome restraint." - Daniel Webster; 1847 "Statesmen may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion andmorality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom cansecurely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue." - John Adams, 2nd President of the United States "Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; theytherefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is sosublime and pure (and) which insures to the good eternal happiness, areundermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for theduration of free governments." - Charles Carroll signer of the Declaration of Independence "The rights essential to happiness.... We claim them from a highersource - from the King of kings and Lord of all the earth." - John Dickinson signed the Constitution and a member of the Continental Congress "The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth:'that God governs in the affairs of men.' And if a sparrow cannot fall tothe ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can risewithout His aid?" - Benjamin Franklin "The only foundation for... a republic is to be laid in Religion.Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be noliberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments." - Benjamin Rush signed the Declaration of Independence "A patriot without religion, in my estimation, is as great a paradox asan honest man without the fear of God. Is it possible that he whom no moralobligations bind, can have any real Good Will towards Men? Can he be apatriot who, by an openly vicious conduct, is undermining the very bonds ofSociety? ...The Scriptures tell us righteousness exalteth a Nation." - Abigail Adams wife of John Adams "Let them revere nothing but religion, morality and liberty." - John Adams advise to his wife, in concern for his sons "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men,undergo the fatigue of supporting it." - Thomas Paine

Almighty Father! look in mercy down: Oh! grant me virtue, to perform my part -- The patriot's fervour, and the statesman'sart In thought, word, deed, preserve me fromthy frown. Direct me to the paths of bright renown Guide my frail bark, by truth's unerringchart, Inspire my soul, and purify my heart; And with success my stedfast purpose crown. My country's weal -- be that my polar star -- Justice, thou Rock of Ages, is thy law -- And when thy summons calls me to thy bar, Be this my plea, thy gracious smile todraw -- That all my ways to justice were inclin'd -- And all my aims -- the blessing of mankind.

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword: His truth is marching on. I have seen him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps; They have builded him an altar in the evening dews and damps; I can read his righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps; His day is marching on. I have read a fiery gospel, writ in burnished rows of steel: "As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal; Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel, Since God is marching on." He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; He is sifting out the hearts of men before his judgment-seat; Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer him!be jubilant, my feet! Our God is marching on. In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me: As he died to make men holy, let us die to maker men free, While God is marching on.