In honor of veterans of all the many wars fought to create, obtain, or defend liberty for ALL as a fundamental value of our country. Yes, for all the women, the men, of every diversity who have given their lives, and for their families and the people across our nation who have supported them. As citizens now divided may we look past our differences and work to honor all.

“Let America Be America Again” (an excerpt)

Let America be America again.
Let it be the dream it used to be.
Let it be the pioneer on the plain
Seeking a home where he himself is free …

…

O, let America be America again —
The land that never has been yet —
And yet must be — the land where every man is free.
The land that’s mine — the poor man’s, Indian’s, Negro’s, ME —
Who made America,
Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain,
Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain,
Must bring back our mighty dream again …

An excerpt from the courageous voice of Langston Hughes, 1935. To read the poem in its entirety, you’ll find it here on the Poetry Foundation site.