"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."

From far away, across the sea,
A tiny band, five score and three,
Departed for a distant shore
To flee oppression evermore,
Intending freedom be obtained
Within a land by God ordained.

Too soon in this idyllic place
The mother country fell from grace
And those who chose before to flee
Now chose, by strength of arms, to free
Their homes, won not by some decree,
But through the dream of liberty.

Proud men the lesson did not learn
And caused again the flames to burn.
They swore the Union be undone
To tear asunder what was one.
For basic freedoms long denied
The proud men fought, the young men died.

At last, safe from ourselves within,
We heard the foreign battles' din.
Despite the promise of our "king,"
The bells of liberty did ring.
The ships, stocked full upon their leave,
Returned depleted, much to grieve.

The "war to end all wars" was won,
Yet fragile peace too soon undone.
Empire and Reich sought to digress;
The rights of free men to oppress.
Off marched the innocents to war;
Good-bye to homes seen nevermore.

We could not even win recess.
Was "war" to "action" true progress?
Yet, young blood spilled was still as real
To fight the Communistic zeal.
Sons died where no one could pronounce
Because prevention lacked the ounce.

Regard not lightly, as you may,
The precious price brave men did pay.
Be grateful for democracy
For freedom's cost is far from "free."