On Monday, we the people of the United States of America will celebrate 240 years of independence.

In Congress, July 4, 1776, from the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

As I write this, our country is deeply divided. In times like these that “try men’s souls,” I prefer to search history for inspiration and hope.

Great speeches and songs that have withstood the test of time provide a galaxy of choices. We must remember that we have been here before and have always prevailed against threats and challenges seemingly impossible, at the time, to overcome.

On July 4, we honor our flag, what it stands for, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us. We find solace and determination in words from great Americans.

“America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.” — Harry S. Truman

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we will pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” — John F. Kennedy

“If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be one nation gone under.” — Ronald Reagan

Perhaps some of the most timely quotes come from less famous people.

“Patriotism is strong nationalistic feeling for a country whose borders and whose legitimacy and whose ethnic composition is taken for granted.” — Michael Ignatieff

“To survive in peace and harmony, united and strong, we must have one people, one nation, one flag.” — Pauline Hanson

At this summer’s political party conventions, I will listen for the words that we need so desperately to inspire and motivate us during these times of great peril. When leadership is lacking, we the people of the United States of America must redouble our efforts to find it and to support it with our own active civic participation.

Great speeches can be augmented by great, patriotic song lyrics to inspire us with the conviction that, like Martin Luther King Jr. said, “We shall overcome!”

Song excerpt examples: “My country ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing, land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims’ pride, let freedom ring.”

And, “While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, let us swear our allegiance to a land that’s free. Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, as we raise our voices in solemn prayer.

“God Bless America, land that I love, Stand beside her, and guide her through the night with a light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans, white with foam, God Bless America. My home sweet home.”

During my career in broadcasting, I had the pleasure of meeting singer-songwriter Lee Greenwood, while hosting a concert at the Augusta Civic Center for radio station WKCG, the Kennebec Country Giant. Greenwood’s intense patriotism produced the lyrics from “God Bless the U.S.A.” One of my all time favorites.

“If tomorrow all the things were gone, I worked for all my life, and I had to start again with just my children and my wife…I thank my lucky stars to be living here today, ’cause the flag still stands for freedom, and they can’t take that away…

“And I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free, and I won’t forget the men who died who gave that right to me-And I’ll gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today, ’cause there ain’t no doubt, I love this land, God Bless the U.S.A.”

From our national anthem, the concluding lyric line asks — “Oh, say does that star spangled banner yet wave, o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?” The answer is an emphatic yes and it always will as we continue to defend and fight for the greatest nation on earth.

“My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the best hope of earth.” (Abraham Lincoln). The dream lives on. Happy Four everybody.

Don Roberts is a veteran broadcaster, writer and political consultant. He has served Augusta as a city councilor at large, charter commission vice chairman and utilities district, treasurer.

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