Long Live the Spirit of America

By Joseph McGowan

 On a clear day in America, the proud eagle roams the skies

The Statue of Liberty welcomes all, with the American dream in their eyes
 Their lies a plaque with the words, " Give us your tired, your weak, your huddled masses"
And on the bustling streets of New York walk it's citizens, as the morning traffic passes

Unaware that on this day the skies would break open, with a reign of terror
And another day that will live on in infamy, in our hearts and souls forever
 I can still see images of planes, falling out of the clear blue sky
Of magnificent buildings collapsing, as people perished right in front of my eyes

It seemed to turn into a ghost-town where once stood a city so full of life and a city so grand
As an evil and cowardly act of violence, had taken all of its life with one swipe of an terrorist hand
 And from the ashes today you heard the screams and you heard the cries
But make no mistake that from the ashes tomorrow "America again will rise"

For long before the last ash from the sky, had fallen down
The men and woman, answered their call to duty, to save this great town
 Willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, not knowing if they’d ever return
Still they bravely went into the buildings, that were falling down around them, and that continued to burn

America now knows what the high price of freedom will cost
But you can't put a price on hopes, dreams, or the lives that were lost
 Yes grieve my fellow Americans, but also hold your heads up high
For you live in a country where we've fought to be free, and for freedom, we'll fight till we die

And this is dedicated to all in this country the old and the young
To our brothers and sisters, to the volunteers, and to the heroes unsung
 To all the mothers and fathers that have fought in our wars, so that our children would be out of harms way
To all the men and woman of the armed forces, who answer their countries call, to arms today

To those who didn't comeback and to those who came back glorious
To those who will never comeback and to those who will comeback victorious
 For they'll be fighting to protect our freedom and the people of this great land
Unselfishly putting their lives on the line, and placing them into gods hand

Defending our country, from the tops of it's mountains to the sands of its shores
From the steps of the White House, to the steps of yours
 Yes today the flag flies at half-staff across our nation, it's undeniably true
But I say to the world "Let Freedom Ring" and "God Bless America" and the red, white, and blue

Copyright 09/14/01