America, The Beautiful Lyrics by Katharine Lee Bates - 1913 O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! O beautiful for pilgrim feet, Whose stern impassion'd stress A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness! America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law! O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine Till all success be nobleness, And ev'ry gain divine! O Beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam, Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! We sang this song in sacrament meeting on Sunday.  I only made it thru the 1st verse, then I wept for the remainder.  I'm still going over the lyrics in my head.  How blessed I am to live in this most magnificent land, to enjoy freedom that has been secured by the ultimate sacrifice.  I pray that I never take it for granted.  The gratitude I feel for those who serve and have served is tremendous.  Happy birthday America, May God continue to shed His Grace on Thee.