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I was with you from the beginning, America. I
helped the Minutemen valiantly fight tyranny and
overcome terrific odds. I watched as you carved out a
new nation, founded on the principles of Life, Liberty,
and the Pursuit of Happiness. For a while, you were
doing fine but then you let war settle a dispute. I cried
when you went to war in 1860; I shuddered when
Pickett charged and Sherman marched and Booth shot.
When you finally stopped arguing, I helped you build
the great nation of the present. I watched you build
the railroad the airplane, the space capsule. I helped
you through the bad times and the good WWI, Jazz
Age, Depression, WWII, crazy 50's, and Vietnam. I
was always there to inspire you, like when I helped
you raise the flag over Iwo Jima, remember? You've
called me many things but I'm always the Spirit of '76.
Come with me; let's ring a new Bell of Liberty and
fire the new shot to be heard around the world.