“This is my country! Land of my birth!
This is my country! Grandest on earth!
I pledge thee my allegiance, America, the bold,
For this is my country to have and to hold.
What diff'rence if I hail from North or South
Or from the East or West?
My heart is filled with love for all of these.
I only know I swell with pride and deep within my breast
I thrill to see Old Glory paint the breeze.
With hand upon heart I thank the Lord for this my native land,
For all I love is here within her gates.
My soul is rooted deeply in the soil on which I stand,
For these are mine own United States.
This is my country! Land of my choice!
This is my country! Hear my proud voice!
I pledge thee my allegiance, America, the bold,
For this is my country! To have and to hold.”
~ “This Is My Country” is an American
patriotic song composed in 1940
~
Lyrics by Don Raye, music by Al Jacobs
~
The song was completed in 1940 and
first recorded in 1942 by Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians. Among others who
have recorded it are the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Patti LaBelle. Tennessee
Ernie Ford’s version appeared on his America the Beautiful album, released in
February 1970, which was later re-released and marketed as Capitol’s
Bicentennial Album.
Rain
didn’t stop the fireworks from “reigning” as gold rained down with the spirit
of patriotism from the summer sky during the 2018 Fourth of July Fireworks set
off from J. Birney Crum Stadium, Allentown, Pennsylvania.
How
wonderful it would be to have fireworks – and the fire of patriotism – in our
hearts every day!
