During these tumultuous days, I hearken back to the lyrics and melodies of a couple of patriotic songs we learned in school that stay with us through our lifetime. The songs make us feel proud and secure that we live in a beautiful and free country.

I do love “The Star-Spangled Banner,” our national anthem, but “America the Beautiful,” written by Kathy Lee Bates, and “My Country, ’Tis of Thee,” written by Samuel Francis Smith, are also thought-provoking and meaningful.

According to one website, Bates’ fourth verse prompted CBS anchor Dan Rather to cry when he taped a segment for the David Letterman show following 9/11.

America! America!
God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.

Unless I had a printout of the four verses of “My Country, ’Tis of Thee,” I don’t think I would know the words but they are nonetheless meaningful. We usually remember the opening verse:

My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims' pride,
From ev'ry mountainside
Let freedom ring!

So, whenever you are feeling patriotic, or that you are doubtful about where our country is headed, log on to You Tube and pull up these songs to make your day better -- hopefully.