A Daughter Sends Birthday Greetings to America

Pool at Korean War Memorial (taken by author)

I am a Daughter of the American Revolution. Such a statement evokes thoughts of the lineage society that honors those who provided a patriotic service in the founding of this great nation, the United States of America! And such would be true in my case. As the descendant of a man who endured winters with General Washington at Valley Forge and died during the struggle, and of several patriots that returned home to raise the next generation of soldiers for the conflict that could be called the second war for American independence, The War of 1812, I can truly say that I am honored to be a member of the organization that admits me purely on the merits of the sacrifices of my ancestors.

But lineage societies cannot be the only way that those patriot's daughters and sons should be recognized. There is another way, and it requires no knowledge of one's family tree or having one's name on the rolls of a lineage society, but it does require membership. I am a daughter of the American Revolution in this way, too, as are many. It could be said that those sacrificing patriots are the Parent of every citizen of the United States. This is true whether the citizen's roots go all the way back to the revolution like mine, or exhibit marks of recent transplanting like those who took the Oath of Citizenship last week. The patriots who fought for the liberty declared 235 years ago and celebrated today provided the way for all who would be citizens of this great nation to be their daughters and sons through an inheritance bought with their blood.

As Samuel Francis Smith so beautifully put it in his poem My Country 'Tis of Thee, "Long may our land be bright, With freedom's holy light . . . ." As a citizen of America it does not matter whether someone's "fathers died" here or if this is their "native" land. Each can sing this as a grateful prayer acknowledging the liberty to engage in God-given rights!

My country tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died! Land of the Pilgrim's 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 fills 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 father's 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!

Happy Birthday, America!

God bless you!

And while we're at it, let's not forget our "noble free" stationed around the globe who, like those patriots of the past, are willing to sacrifice so that America remains the "sweet land of liberty." Thank you for your service!