Every day as a little girl in elementary school, we stood and said the pledge of allegiance to our flag. Then we sang the first verse of this song.

It has been with me ever since.

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!

There is another verse I also remember singing:

Our fathers’ God to Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright,
With freedom’s holy light,
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God our King!

I love my country, I love my freedom, I love my God.