Centennial Celebration
In the year eighteen seventy-six,
A Fourth of July celebration
Was held in Grand Rapids city
In honor to our nation.
The largest city in the county of Kent,
Is this city, and it is respected,
For thousands of people was here to see
The beautiful arch erected.
The Centennial arch on Campau Place
Was the most principal feature;
It was a grand beautiful sight
To all human sensitive creatures;
To all the people that loved to read
The mottoes on it painted,
The engravings, too, and tell
What each one represented.
The paintings and mottoes on the arch
Was viewed by many people;
It was Colonel Joseph Penney's design,
And his work could not be equalled.
Mr. C. H. Gifford was architect,
He formed the noble structure,
A memento to the Centennial year,
A pride of our nation's culture.
A cabin was built, too, I believe,
That nicely represented
One that the traders built years ago,
This was the only one invented.
Ten thousand people respected it,
This token of early years, with pay;
The honor of this little hut
Was due to Mr. Godfroy.
The stars and stripes was honored, too,
For from a thousand windows waving,
That dear old flag, red, white and blue,
That's loved throughout our nation:
That same flag for one hundred years
Has waved over our nation;
May God let it forever wave
Over our Union celebration.
The people in the city, friends,
Was an honor to our nation,
For they all joined heart and hand
In our Union celebration.
Some gave money, other labor,
To maintain what was intended.
It was a success, some people said,
Who here that day attended.
That day will never be forgot
By the people of Kent county,
God bless the people who joined that day
In the honor of our country.
The people in the city, friends,
Dearly loved this nation,
For they saved no time or expense
In our Centennial celebration.
poem by Julia A Moore

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Related quotes
Centennial
Come all ye friends of Liberty,
Who love our good old nation,
Let hands and hearts united be,
And beat the wide creation.
For this is our Centennial year,
The birthday of our nation;
For it is just one hundred years
That's stood our good old nation.
CHORUS:
Centennial! Centennial!
Hurrah to the Centennial;
And many, many people gone
To our national Centennial.
To Philadelphia people went,
And more was sure to go, sir;
They say there was things to be seen
Of a hundred years ago, sir.
Come all ye sons of liberty,
That love our good old nation,
Unite and keep our country free,
And the stars and stripes a waving.
The revolutionary war was fought
To gain our independence,
That we a nation great may be,
Both free and independent.
They fought the British, far and near,
For freedom, and they gained it --
In Centennial years of Jubilee,
Let Columbia's sons maintain it.
poem by Julia A Moore

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The Dear Old Flag
Oh! we love that dear old flag,
That our forefathers gave
Over one hundred years ago, boys,
They once stood under that dear flag,
But now they are in their graves,
Sleeping their everlasting sleep, boys.
CHORUS:
The Union forever,
Hurrah, boys, hurrah;
Down with the traitors,
Up with the stars;
For we love that dear old flag
That our fathers fought to save
When they were fighting for our freedom.
We will rally around its standard
Every Fourth day of July,
For we dearly love our nation;
We love to see the stars and stripes
A waving up on high
Over our Union celebration.
Three cheers for the Union
And the red, white and blue,
And our forefathers that formed the constitution;
May the flag forever wave
O'er our native land so true,
May God protect our flag and nation.
poem by Julia A Moore

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Beautiful Twenty-Second
To Original Music
The people in this nation,
Have kept for many years,
February twenty-second,
That day we love it dear.
It's our forefather's birthday,
Brave, noble Washington;
And may we ever keep it,
Through all the years to come.
CHORUS:
Beautiful twenty-second,
Beautiful twenty-second,
May the people ever keep it,
Beautiful twenty-second.
One of the constitution builders,
Was that brave, noble man,
He fought under that dear flag
That's loved throughout our land.
He went through many battles,
He fought for liberty,
That this glorious republic
A nation great may be.
Chorus --
Oh, keep the twenty-second,
In honor to his name,
Who fought to gain our freedom
From England's British chains.
Now he is sweetly sleeping,
Brave, noble Washington,
May the people not forget him,
Columbia's noblest son.
poem by Julia A Moore

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Forth Of July Celebration
(7/4/12)
It's the 4th of JULY celebration
Where people who wanted freedom
Fought to create this nation.
Many had died to give us this right
And over two hundred years we continue to fight.
We still give freedom to all who arrive
This is our nations pride.
People who have come here from every nation
Join one another for this celebration.
In our nations capital we have our liberty bell
Where our cry for freedom was to " give them hell".
Through out our nation you will see fireworks shot in the sky
To remind us of how these AMERICANS fought and died.
So weather it be fireworks you shoot in the sky
Or a sparkler that you hold in your hand
Pride is something that we understand.
Join us in this celebration - "feel the pride
Feel the sensation."
poem by Louis Rams

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Jubilee
Bells across the Nation will ring.
Bands will play; people will sing.
The Nation will rise up to its feet,
And people will party in the street.
People will come together as one,
For a time of festivity and of fun.
People will jump up out of their seats,
To dance along with the various beats.
This is our Nation's one big chance
For a show of Pomp and Circumstance.
Flags will be waved and bunting unfurled,
For the biggest celebration in all the world.
The huge crowds will all clap and cheer,
As our Queen celebrates her 60th year.
People will be hoping to catch a glimpse
Of Her Majesty, and of Philip, her Prince.
People will come from many a mile;
Upon their faces will be a big smile.
There will be a sea of rainbow faces;
People of all religions and of all races.
Over the palace, the Red Arrows will fly,
As everyone's eyes look up to the sky.
It will be the biggest party we've ever seen.
Long may she reign: God save the Queen!
poem by Angela Wybrow

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One Nation Under God' -The Only Way
'One nation under God'
Recall that phrased foundation
When Americans were so glad
Its fathers built the nation
On steadfast godly principles
Of Truth, Faith, and Honor,
His Word then guided all the people
And progress blessed like none before.
'One nation under God'
Return to this, your steady Rock
Only in Him the nation stands
A sure foundation, the Building Block
God bless America and protect it with His Hand.
poem by Cynthia Buhain-Baello

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A Nation Celebrates
Boats take to the Thames to honour the Queen:
The most craft, at any one time, the river has seen.
On to the trains, thousands of people cram.
On the roads, there are massive traffic jams.
People pack in to pubs to consume a few beers:
There is much merriment, and calls of ‘cheers! '
People are attending parties in their streets:
Long tables are laden with tasty treats to eat.
In towns, shops windows are patriotically dressed.
Across the nation, people put on their Sunday best.
Everywhere that you look is brightly festooned
With flags, bunting, streamers, and party balloons.
Of Jubilee memorabilia, there is certainly no lack:
Just about every item possible bears the Union Jack.
There are Jubilee jelly moulds and garden gnomes:
Just about everything that you'd need for your home.
Even the packaging on much supermarket food,
Bears the patriotic colours of red, white and blue.
Thousands of beacons are being lit. Burning bright,
They glow in the dark with a glorious, golden light.
At the Palace, there is a massive musical celebration,
Which is enjoyed by thousands right across the nation.
Tower Bridge is adorned with thousands of lights:
Lit up at night, it makes a truly magnificent sight.
People don Union Jack hats or wear cardboard crowns.
Some paint their faces, or wear patriotic party gowns.
The rather rainy weather, the nation stoically braves.
A sea of Union Jack flags, by well-wishers, is waved.
Our warmest wishes to Her Majesty, our nation sends.
We're having a great time this Bank Holiday weekend.
It is a time for our whole nation to all come together.
Memories of this very special occasion will last for ever.
poem by Angela Wybrow

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Hurrah for Cooper and Cary
Air -- "Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys"
We will rally in the city,
We will gather from the farms,
Shouting equalization,
Greenbacks a legal tender,
Then the poor will get along,
The poor that dwell throughout our nation.
CHORUS:
Three cheers for Cooper and Cary,
Hurrah, boys, hurrah;
Three cheers for our nation,
In peace and in war;
If it were not for our laboring men,
What would our nation do --
Take this in consideration.
It is now one hundred years,
Or just one century,
Stood grand this good old nation,
And our forefathers fought
That we may not be a slave --
A slave to the monarchy of England.
Revolutionary war was fought
With the British, this we hear,
To make this an independent nation;
We, the independent men,
We will not be a slave,
To bond-holders in our nation.
The Republicans are for gold,
And the nation as it is;
Take this in consideration.
In eighteen seventy-nine
Taxes must be paid in gold,
If Hayes and Wheeler gain election.
The Democrats are for gold,
Reform and economy;
What better off will be our nation,
If Tilden and Hendricks,
If they gain the day --
Poor people will come to starvation.
Come, freeman, now arise,
Put your shoulder to the wheel
This Presidential election;
Vote for an independent man,
One in favor of greenbacks,
In this great financial question.
Three cheers for Cooper and Cary,
May they keep marching on --
Marching with God upon the right, boys,
May they conquer o'er their foes
And the cursed money rings --
Right will yet conquer might, boys.
poem by Julia A Moore

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Rhythm Nation
with music by our side
to break the color lines
let's work together
to improve our way of life
join voices in protest
to social injustice
ageneration full of courage
come forth with me
people of the world today
are we lookink for a better way of life(sing)
we are a part of the rhythm nation
people of the world unite
strength in numbers we can get it right(sing it)
we are a part of the rhythm nation
this is the test
no struggle no progress
lend a hand to help
your brother do his best
thinds are getting worse
we have to make them better
it's time to give a damn
let's work together...come on...
people of the world today
are we lookink for a better way of life(sing)
we are a part of the rhythm nation(people)
people of the world unite
strength in numbers we can get it right(sing it)
we are a part of the rhythm nation
people of the world today
are we lookink for a better way of life(sing it)
we are a part of the rhythm nation
people of the world unite
strength in numbers we can get it right
we are a part of the rhythm nation
say it people
say it to me
say it to me if you want a better way of life
say it people
say it to me
say it to me if you want a better way of life
people of the world today
are we lookink for a better way of life(sing)
we are a part of the rhythm nation
people of the world unite
strength in numbers we can get it right
we are a part of the rhythm nation
people of the world today
are we lookink for a better way of life(sing)
we are a part of the rhythm nation
people of the world unite
strength in numbers we can get it right
we are a part of the rhythm nation
people of the world today
are we lookink for a better way of life(sing)
we are a part of the rhythm nation
people of the world unite
strength in numbers we can get it right
we are a part of the rhythm nation
(rhythm nation) yeah
song performed by by Janet Jackson from Rhythm Nation 1814

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Grand Rapids
Air -- "Bright Alfaretta"
Wild roved the Indians once
On the banks of Grand River,
And they built their little huts
Down by that flowing river.
In a pleasant valley fair,
Where flows the river rapid,
An Indian village once was there,
Where now stands Grand Rapids.
Indian girls and boys were seen,
With their bow and quiver,
Riding in their light canoes
Up and down the river.
Their hearts were full of joy,
Happy voices singing
Made music with forest birds,
They kept the valley ringing.
Indians have left and gone
Beyond the Mississippi.
They called the river Owashtenong
Where stands this pleasant city.
Louis Campau the first white man
Bought land in Grand Rapids.
He lived and died, an honored man
By people of Grand Rapids.
When Campau came to the valley
No bridge was across the river;
Indians in their light canoes
Rowed them o'er the water.
Railroads now from every way
Run through the city, Grand Rapids;
The largest town in west Michigan
Is the city of Grand Rapids.
poem by Julia A Moore

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Sing Austrailia
I come to Australia as many people do, to see the old koala, hitch a ride on a kangaroo.
To hear somebody call me "Mate" and call somebody "Blue,"
to hear an Aborigine play a didgeridoo.
Some of you came as prisoners two centuries ago,
some of you come as kings and queens your blessing to bestow.
Some of you stand all swelled with pride, some with shattered wings,
but all of us come with open hearts to hear Australia sing.
In the desert, in the city, in the mountains and in the sea.
In the stories and in the people I can hear Australia sing.
Waltzing Matilda, the men of Gallipoli, Clancy of the Overflow and Crocodile Dundee.
The myth of all creation, the teaching of Baiame, the legends of the Dreamtime for all eternity.
And in this celebration, a brief two hundred years,
the cost to build a nation in blood and sweat and tears.
And if we stand divided, divided we shall fall. But if we stand together, we shall conquer all.
In the desert, in the city, in the mountains and in the sea.
In the stories and in the people I can hear Australia sing..
Sing Australia, sing Australia, sing Australia, sing Australia.
In the sails on Sydney Harbour I can hear Australia sing.
song performed by by John Denver

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The Song Of My Nation
i heard the song of my nation
in a foreign land it was played smoothely
i had sworn to remain in exile forever
but it was before i heard the song of my nation
i closed my eyes to listen
but imaginations took control
i saw my home, i felt the cry of my people
and i stood for my people, fought with them
it was the song of my nation that called my name
it questioned my love for my people
while the song played, i packed to leave
to find the path home, which was nolonger clear
it was the anthem, the anthem of my nation
it told of my perishing people
it whispered the cry of a widow and the widower
it screamed the agony of newly orphaned child
today iam finding my path home
i will use diplomacy, i may take the arms and fight
but today the song spoke to me, as the flag waved hopelessly
i will die a soldier, soldiering on for my people!
poem by Inomusa Ndlovu

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The Great Chicago Fire
The great Chicago Fire, friends,
Will never be forgot;
In the history of Chicago
It will remain a darken spot.
It was a dreadful horrid sight
To see that City in flames;
But no human aid could save it,
For all skill was tried in vain.
In the year of 1871,
In October on the 8th,
The people in that City, then
Was full of life, and great.
Less than four days it lay in ruins,
That garden City, so great
Lay smouldering in ashes,
In a sad and pitiful state.
It was a sad, sad scene indeed,
To see the fire arise,
And hear the crackling of the flames
As it almost reached the skies,
And sadder still, to hear the moans,
Of people in the flames
Cry for help, and none could get,
Ah, die where they remained.
To see the people run for life;
Up and down the blazing streets,
To find then, their escape cut off
By the fiery flaming sheets,
And others hunting for some friend
That perhaps they never found,
Such weeping, wailing, never was known,
For a thousands miles around.
Some people were very wealthy
On the morning of the 10th.
But at the close of the evening,
Was poor, but felt content,
Glad to escape from harm with life
With friends they loved so well,
Some will try to gain more wisdom,
By the sad sight they beheld.
Five thousand people were homeless,
Sad wanderers in the streets,
With no shelter to cover them,
And no food had they to eat.
They wandered down by the lake side,
Lay down on the cold damp ground,
So tired and weary and homeless,
So the rich, the poor, was found.
Mothers with dear little infants,
Some clinging to the breast.
People of every description
All laid down there to rest,
With the sky as their covering,
Ah, pillows they had none.
Sad, oh sad, it must have been,
For those poor homeless ones.
Neighboring Cities sent comfort,
To the poor lone helpless ones,
And God will not forget them
In all the years to come.
Now the City of Chicago
Is built up anew once more,
And may it never be visited
With such a great fire no more.
poem by Julia A Moore

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Tryst with Destiny (in poem form for India’s 64th Independence Day)
And when the clock struck twelve midnight,
Fourteenth, august, forty-seven,
An Asian nation turned awake,
While world slept on in slumber deep!
A hundred years of freedom fight
Came to a grinding halt that night,
As Pandit Nehru gave his speech,
‘Tryst with destiny’ with reach!
India awoke to freedom life,
Despite a hundred years of strife,
And took a pledge anew to stay
A nation, free with peace each day!
That moment was so rare indeed;
A nation’s soul was stirred to lead,
And show the world its powerful seed,
As nations totally paid heed.
India’s history thus saw a dawn:
A struggle great ended that morn,
As success finally newborn,
Did Motherland with pride adorn.
With freedom came newer duties;
The failures of the past did cease;
The country was given new lease –
A cure for this strange a disease!
The nation was a sovereign state,
On that magical hour and date;
As leaders vowed to change the fate
Of Indian people’s long a wait.
A star of freedom rose in east,
Heralding celebration, feast;
A hope anew was born that day,
To never cease, oh, come what may!
The star would never set at all –
The Nation’s Father’s clarion call,
The architect of freedom’s hall,
Was Gandhiji (Bapu) , man tall!
He held the torch of freedom high;
Many freedom fighters did die;
And many people heaved a sigh;
As democracy stood too nigh!
‘Jai Hind! Jai Bharat! ’
Copyright by Dr John Celes 8-06-2010
poem by John Celes

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Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal...We here highly resolve that the dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
quote by Abraham Lincoln

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God is concerned with nations, but nations also need to be concerned with God. No nation can have a monopoly on God, but God will bless any nation whose people seek and honor His will as revealed by Christ and declared through the Holy Spirit.
quote by John Haggai

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Independance Day!
I am the 15th august
I am remembered for one day every year
I make you proud every year
I am your life's most memorable august.
I make you feel free,
I give a unique feeling,
You've now got an independent country,
I've given you the most cherished feeling.
I have been your most sought day,
You gave innumerable sacrifices,
Ultimately I came out be your dream day.
I've given your life the best of the rarest prizes.
I am the Independence Day,
I've given you a hope for the future.
You've now got an open cage to live in.
I am your freedom day.
You make unlimited promises on this day,
You take vows to make your nation pride,
You make promises of taking the nation forward,
You plan of making the nation bright.
All your promises remain as promises.
All your plans get buried the next day.
All your aspirations flow along with your celebrations
You barely remember what actually your promises were
You feel patriotic for just one day
You flow into the celebrations the whole day
You proudly wave the national flag around
You keep the flag close to your chest
Eight hours of sleep is enough
To make us forget this memorable day
Weren't the sacrifices more than enough
To make us realize the value of this day
They fought for their lovely country
They died to save their dying Nation
They struggled for the elusive Independence
They had really hoped for a much better Nation
I proudly say I am the Independence Day
I fill your heart with 365 days of vigor
I give you the confidence of building a better Nation
I give you the feeling of making the Nation Bigger
I still see hungry people around
I still see child slaves around
I see people dividing themselves.
I get pained by the different classes around
This is not the Nation they fought for,
This is not the day they fought for.
Let's make a real unanimous vow
Let's promise that we are going to look after the Nation now
I plead you not to treat me as any other day
Let's make everyday as an Independence Day
Let's remove the hatred and spread Love around
I ask you to give some value for this Day
I am 15th August, I am the Independence Day
poem by Jameel Ahmed Ansari

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Sing Australia
This song appears on four albums, and was first released on the higher ground album, and has also been released on the a portrait, the john denver collection - calypso and the gift you are album
I come to australia as many people do
To see the old koala, hitch a ride on a kangaroo
To hear somebody call me mate and call somebody blue
To hear the aboriginee play a didgeridoo
Some of you came as prisoners two centuries ago
Some of you come as kings and queens your blessing to bestow
Some of you stand all swelled with pride, some with shattered wings
But all of us come with open hearts to hear australia sing
In the desert, in the city
In the mountains and in the sea
In the stories and in the people
I can hear australia sing
Waltzing matilda, the men of galipoli
Clancy of the overflow, crocodile dundee
The myth of all creation, the teaching of baiame
The legends of a dreamtime for all eternity
And in this celebration of a brief two hundred years
The cost to build a nation in blood and sweat and tears
And if we stand divided, divided we will fall
But if we stand together we shall conquer all
In the desert, in the city
In the mountains and in the sea
In the stories and in the people
I can hear australia sing
Sing australia, sing australia, sing australia, sing australia
In the sails on sydney harbour
I can hear australia sing
Words and music by john denver
song performed by by John Denver

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Cherokee Nation Will Return
This nation is in the process of reunification
people living together across the nation,
From the market crash of 2008,
families and friends are coming
together as of late.
Now we can once again be
like the Native American Tribes,
and keep this planet not only
surviving but thriving with wonderful life.
Like the indegeonus people treat their
Elderly with respect,
They have knowledge wisdom and
They will help us not forget,
family stories from not so distant past,
elderly can pass this on to the grand children
and make it last.
Like the song “Cherokee Nation Will Return”
this time we must finally learn,
learn to remember who we really are,
We’ve have come to this place once before
but now in this recorded
time of His/her story,
we can do amazing things in God’s great glory.
Written on July 30th by Christina Sunrise
www.christinasunrise.com www.purplepoems.com
poem by Christina Sunrise

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Pretoria
I look at a city,
a city once modern, new
and progressive, the cultural centre
of a nation
but now poverty
and mismanagement
is taking its toll.
Where ten years back
people could live in its apartments
now is a ghetto,
with prostitutes on the street,
primitive men urinating against buildings
and teenagers walking with ghetto-blasters
playing music at full volume.
Where at traffic lights
windows are smashed with bricks
and valuables are stolen,
parked cars are taken,
where cars are hijacked
with the barrel of a gun
and cars are even stripped
at the police grounds.
A capital city in a country
that has thrown its borders
wide open to the rest of Africa
and every criminal
has headed there
and gangsters live in paradise
but in the suburbs
people still are making a living
in fortresses guarded by dogs
and security devices,
with panic buttons
for the nearest rent a cop
and people still pray
and go to work and play
as if crime is the norm
and the inadequacy
of the new government
doesn’t really matter.
poem by Gert Strydom

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