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On pillars built by mighty men, on song in stone set there,

An anthem courses through the halls of liberty, so rare!

Learned sages of old, with bold dreams of shackles broken,

They all pondered, and they sweat, and to this greatest token,

Ascribed with pen’s sword, to parchment, ideals of liberty,

All men, everywhere, entitled by God, to all be free!

We declare, on every shore, blessings to posterity,

Whether bound in spirit, mind, or body, we shall set free,

All peoples ’round the world, come to these shores of liberty,

Embrace ideals set forth by He who made all things to be,

Oh, wise ones, just, who took the time, and what they had they gave,

Their possessions, and their fortunes, to reach for roads to pave,

To inspire posterity – generations unfurled,

Always to push, to reach – for liberty around the world!

PTR September 15, 2011