Mayor’s Message

“God Bless Our Great Nation”

I was rummaging through some old school materials I had saved. I ran across this poem that many of my classmates and I memorized for extra credit in the 5th grade. By the way my 5th grade teach was my father. He was also my Principal. The poem is a tribute to our great nation the United States of America. It was written by Henry Van Dyke. He wrote this poem when he returned from a trip to Europe. May I share it with you: “

‘Tis fine to see the Old World and travel up and down

Among the famous palaces and cities of renown,

To admire the crumbly castles and the statues and kings

But now I think I’ve had enough of antiquated things.

So it’s home again, and home again, America for me!

My heart is turning home again and there I long to be,

In the land of youth and freedom, beyond the ocean bars,

Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars.

Oh, London is a man’s town, there’s power in the air;

And Paris is a woman’s town, with flowers in her hair;

And it’s sweet to dream in Venice, and it’s great to study Rome;

But when it comes to living there is no place like home.

I like the German fir-woods in green battalions drilled;

I like the gardens of Versailles with flashing fountains filled;

But, oh, to take your had, my dear, and ramble for a day

In the friendly western woodland where Nature has her sway!

I know that Europe’s wonderful, yet something seems to lack!

The Past is too much with her, and the people looking back.

But the glory of the Present is to make the Future free--

We love our land for what she is and what she is to be.

Oh, it’s home again, and home again, America for me!

I want a ship that’s westward bound to plough the rolling sea,

To the blessed Land of Room Enough, beyond the ocean bars,

Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars.”

May God bless our great nation. For it is YOU that makes it great...........

Kenneth Neilson

Mayor

(435) 656-6308

kneilson@washingtoncity.org