I am An American,
I am Christopher Columbus who discovered my new shores searching for a new land,
I am the first settlers in Jamestown suffering through the first hard winter refusing to leave my new home.
I am an American,
I came over on the the Mayflower so that I could worship and pray as I felt lead of God,
I am Patrick Henry who said loud enough for everyone to hear, "Give me liberty or give me death",
I am an American,
I am a founding father who bravely signed my name to the Declaration of Independence at Freedom Hall,
I am an American,
I was with General George Washington that cold winter at Valley Forge,
I was with the Colonial Army when Cornwallis laid down his sword freeing us from the tyranny of King George,
I am an American,
I was with Old Andy Jack as we faced the bloody British in the town of New Orleans,
I am an American,
I am brother against brother at Bull Run,
I was at Vicksburg, Shiloh and Gettysburg,
I heard a weary old Abe Lincoln standing in a cemetery of a great battlefield declare that "All Men are Created Equal",
I am an American,
I rode with Teddy Roosevelt and his rough riders up San Juan hill,
I was in the trenches in France and Germany fighting the War to end all wars,
I am an American,
I was on the decks of the Arizona at Pearl Harbor on the "Day that will live in infamy",
I stormed the beach heads of Normandy on D Day,
I crossed the hedge groves of France and followed Patton into Germany and liberated thousands of Jews,
I was with Doolittle the day he bombed Japan,
I was at the Halls of Montezuma and the shores of Tripoli,
I saw my friends die for our liberty on the beaches of Iwa Jima,
I stood on the deck of the Missouri and watched as our enemy signed its formal surrender ending the second war to end all wars,
I am an American,
I went to the 38th parallel to stop communist aggression in Korea,
I am an American,
I went to the rice patties in Vietnam to stop the same aggression while those who opposed the war were allowed to protest in the streets of America,
I am an American,
I heard a young JFK challenge a country to "Ask not what your country can do for you but what can you do for your country",
I am an American,
I was at the Lincoln Memorial the day Dr. King shared his dream with the nation,
I saw this same Dr. King shot down along with Bobby and JFK for the truths they believed in,
I am an American,
I went to the storm in the desert to fight a wicked dictator and then when back again to finish the job I started after cowards sent planes into my trade centers,
I am an American,
I heard the actor turned President Ron challenge Russia's premier,
"Mr. Gorbachav, tear down this wall",
I developed star wars to start the nuclear detent,
I am an American,
I was the first to set foot on the moon,
I rode the Challenger and the Columbia into deep blue skies and then on into eternity,
I am an American,
I am Davis, Lee and Jackson riding off on Stone Mountain, Ga.,
I am an American,
the faces of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt on Mt. Rushmore,
I am an American,
I am the factory worker in Detroit,
the actor in California,
the farmer in Nebraska,
the coal miner in West Virginia,
the orange grower in Florida,
and the dairy man in Wisconsin,
I am an American,
I am the Chinaman in San Francisco,
I am the Jew in New York,
the Hispanic in Florida,
the African-American in Washington,
the Irish in Boston,
the Swede in the Great Lakes,
the American Indian in New Mexico,
I am an American,
I am an elementary student at my first day of kindergarten,
and I am a proud college student finishing my degree in law,
I am an American,
like: Babe Ruth, Joe Lewis, Jesse Owens and Jim Thorpe,
Jackie Robinson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Richard Petty, and Sandra Day O'Connor,
Little Audie Murphy and Big John Wayne, the Duke,
I am an American,
I like the Beach Boys, Aretha Franklin, Elvis, and Frank Sinatra,
I like the Blues, Soul, Southern Gospel, Bluegrass and Contemporary Gospel,
I am an American,
I love baseball, hotdogs, apples pies and Chevrolets,
I love mom and I respect people of all races and faiths,
I am an American,
I have suffered through wars from aggressive enemies,
I have lived through the Great Depression,
I have overcome bad economies,
I have survived earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and terrible winter snow storms,
I have endured the reproach of those who hate me regardless of the fact that I refuse none and send help and aid to all that are oppressed,
Yes, I am an American,
Betsy Ross, Yankee Doodle, Uncle Sam and Barney Fife,
I am proud of my flag, my country and my freedom,
and I respect my leaders and laws,
America, America, God shed His grace on thee,
and crowned thy good with brotherhood from sea to shinging sea,
I AM AN AMERICAN!
( Written by Pastor Bernard Cook for the 2005 Fourth of July Sunday Morning Worship Service)
