Let us remember today
how high the cost of liberty,
how hard the dream of freedom,
how sweet the rewards of opportunity,
how precious the concept.

Pass it down,
how men chose to stand for an idea
of self-determination of liberty,
and were willing, when called,
to buy that dream with their life.
This dream is not for tyrants,
not bound by color or creed or race,
but bound by justice, honor, and hope.

Yes, we have not always lived up to our dream,
but it still burns brightly,
fed with the blood of our sons and daughters,
a torch to light the night -
unalienable truths,
liberty, life, and the pursuit of happiness
framed by the consent of the governed
in a striving for justice.

Pass it down,
this torch bought dearly,
and guard it with all your might,
for the winds of darkness ever strive to put it out.