I thank God for my life
And for the stars and stripes
May freedom forever fly
Let it ring

Salute the ones who died
The ones that give their lives
So we dont have to sacrifice
All the things we love

Like our chicken fried
And cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio on.

Chicken Fried – the Zac Brown band

Seriously?

Is it my imagination or are we Americans in danger of losing all sense of what liberty means? Perhaps we would be wise to carefully reflect upon the last two verses of “America, the Beautiful:”

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev’ry gain divine!

O Beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam,
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

To the true heroes and patriots who hold, advance and protect the precious dream of liberty, thank you. And may we never reduce what America means to a country song that insults the sacrifices of so many.