Monday Morning Boost: “Proud To Be An American”
The words stir the collective passion of America, unlike any other song…
If tomorrow all the things were gone
I worked for all my life
And I had to start again
With just my children and my wife
We vigorously sing along with the entire song, not just the chorus…
I’d thank my lucky stars
To be livin’ here today
‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom
And they can’t take that away
She rings as a glorious foundational anthem, right up there with Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America”…
From the lakes of Minnesota
To the hills of Tennessee
Across the plains of Texas
From sea to shining sea
And Katherine Lee Bates’ “America the Beautiful”…
From Detroit down to Houston
And New York to L.A.
Well, there’s pride in every American heart
And it’s time we stand and say
We stand up and say… more so, we stand up and proclaim with conviction…
I’m proud to be an American
Where at least I know I’m free
And I won’t forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me
We honor those who Stood to Defend and revere those who “laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.”
And I’d gladly stand up
Next to you and defend her still today
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land
God bless the USA
And, yes, I will gladly stand up next to you, even today, and defend our beautiful country, cause there ain’t no doubt my friends you and I both love this land…
This day, and forevermore my friends, I pray that God will bless our country from sea to shining sea, and will bless each one of us who inhabit this beautiful land, the United States of America!
SUNDAY REFLECTIONS
Elisa and I shared the following for our weekly Sunday Reflections. I hope you will enjoy these extra thoughts.
Few words echo the united feeling we have as Americans more than Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless The U.S.A.”
Especially in times of tragedy.
Written and released in 1983, the patriotic anthem has found new meaning over the last nearly forty years.
“It keeps having a different kind of life,” Lee Greenwood said of his signature song. “I mean during the Gulf War, it was a song of the war for General Schwarzkopf. After Hurricane Katrina, it was a song for life and hope, and then after 9/11, it was a song of unity and rebuilding.”
A patriotic song of war, a song of life and hope, a song of unity and rebuilding.
Then in July 2020, when America was reeling from a worldwide health crisis, the song once again took on new meaning. Teaming up with the United States Air Force Band Singing Sergeants and acapella group Home Free, Lee Greenwood released a “virtual” version that once again help unite our beautiful county.
Now it’s our turn as we share this beautiful piano arrangement by Jennifer Eklund. We hope you enjoy!
Have a great Monday! Thanks for letting me share.
Les
p.s. Take 13 minutes today to reflect on what God Bless the USA means to you.
