by Jeff Helms, Chairman
God bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her, through the night with the light from above.
These words, penned by Irving Berlin in 1918 during the waning months of World War I, have become an anthem of U.S. patriotism, often complementing the official Star-Spangled Banner. This song is both a plea to the Creator and a pledge of loyalty. Yet, somehow, we’ve lost sight of its call to stewardship.
Unless you’re an Atlanta Braves fan and routinely hear opera tenor Timothy Miller belt out God Bless America during the seventh-inning stretch, you may have never heard the compelling prelude.
While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free. Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, as we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.
Allegiance. Gratitude. Prayer.
This song calls us to honor not just a system of government or our national identity, but the LAND.
Land that we love! From majestic mountains to lonesome prairies to powerful oceans, this song is a petition for blessing with an implicit responsibility to be caretakers.
As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday this year, it’s my hope our renewed patriotism extends beyond fireworks and flags. Let it rekindle within us a personal responsibility to be good stewards of the blessings we enjoy. Certainly, this includes civic engagement and honoring veterans, but it should also motivate us to demonstrate gratitude by protecting our natural resources.
If we truly love this land, we will safeguard it for future generations. If we appreciate the grandeur of towering peaks and the bounty of the fruited plain (different song), we will honor them by keeping this land clean. We will do our part to ensure our children and grandchildren can enjoy shining seas.
Even as I write these words, I know I’m “singing to the choir.” You are the keepers of this land we love. You show your patriotism by picking up other peoples’ trash and teaching our children that great blessing comes with great responsibility.
Thank you for everything you do for our state and nation. God bless America, our home sweet home!