Legend, Justice, and Freedom

An unexplored land, a continent to be revealed,
Siberian hunters arrived for the first time,
Thousands of years ago, they spread far and wide,
being born diverse cultures at the dawn of time,
Nomads of wind, of clay, and of wisdom's tide.

Clovis, Mississippian, of the Southeast and Southwest,
Pacific Northwest, Northern, and Arctic tribes,
They lived off the sea, the sun, and paradise,
Shaping the earth with hands of good,
Crafting figures of spirit and faith as they should.

Three ships sailed the Caribbean to the Atlantic blue,
Santiago, San Cristóbal, and Santa María de Consolación too,
Juan Ponce de León, in fifteen-thirteen, was lost in flora's hue,
Amazed by the fauna, he joyfully proclaimed anew,
"I name it Pascua Florida," with love shining through.

He sailed again through wind and wave,
In fifteen-twenty-one, the Calusa tribe stood brave,
Near Charlotte Harbor, they gave him strife,
A poisoned arrow struck his thigh,
He journeyed to Cuba, where he lost his life.

At the mouth of the Johnson River came,
La Trinité, among three ships of fame,
A French officer, a navigator bold,
Founded Charlesfort in fifteen sixty-two of old,
Two years later, Fort Caroline was claimed with no shame.

Pedro Menéndez de Avilés arrived with might,
Defeated the French with passion and fight.
In fifteen sixty-five, St. Augustine was born,
Fulfilling the mission of King Philip's sworn,
Planting the cross, the banner with honor worn.

In the spring of fifteen eighty-six,
On a sunny day, Sir Francis Drake came with tricks,
Sent by Queen Elizabeth to seek Roanoke,
They only burned and looted before sailing away,
But the Spanish rebuilt St. Augustine with love again each day.

Disputes and wars for endless lands,
Seven years of struggle on unplanted sands.
Spain and France met defeat’s demand,
In seventeen sixty-three came peace at last,
The Treaty of Paris closed the past,
Florida, east of the Mississippi, and Canada were passed.

Over twelve thousand years ago, a tribal confederation rose:
Powhatan Chiefdom it was known, and the English came with hopes,
Captain Smith, in sixteen-oh-seven, founded Jamestown bold.
Conflicts over land arose, John Rolfe calmed the storm,
And through Pocahontas, peace took form.

Tensions and English settlements spiraled out of hold,
The Powhatan people and their federation grew cold,
A peace treaty defined the region’s fold,
And Algonquian language still echoes, brave and bold.

Thirteen British colonies rebelled with fiery might,
For trade freedom and their rightful fight.
The Continental Congress, in July 1776, did proclaim
A resolution of independence from England’s reign,
And Thomas Jefferson drafted freedom’s flame.

On July 4, 1776, a nation was born,
After nine years of revolution’s storm.
George Washington led liberty’s call,
With help from the Dutch, France, and Spain’s thrall.

On September 3, 1783,
The Treaty of Paris was signed with glee,
Franklin, Adams, and Jay secured peace’s decree,
And a sovereign country rose in unity.

Thirty-seven more states would soon unite,
By war or purchase, by grit and right,
A melting pot of cultures, blood, and migration,
Forged with hard work this great nation.

The echo of war boomed without end,
Imperial ambitions, a duke’s death to defend.
Empires fell, new borders took root,
In 1919, a continent stood in pursuit
Of the Triple Entente, a sovereign light,
Strengthening alliances, peace signed at Versailles.

By land, air, and sea, Poland was attacked,
In the East, an empire’s ambition tracked.
The Axis Forces sought land and racial might,
A North American continent gave logistics and fight,
Germany surrendered, Hitler dead—armed tragedy met its end.

Japan's surprise struck Pearl Harbor's core,
The U.S. rose with courage, weapons, and more.
Blood and loss on both sides spilled,
President Truman warned of destruction fulfilled,
With sorrow and resolve, surrender was sealed.

With territorial limits and war reparations laid,
In winter of 1947, in Paris peace was made.
But let this message ring out loud:
Seek peace and spare patriot blood so proud.

Aerial monsters crushed our pride,
A symbol of greatness turned vulnerable inside.
The “City That Never Sleeps” was struck with grief,
The world stood shocked in disbelief.
A burning wound seared a nation’s heart,
With determination, a Zero Zone took part,
Breaking the chains of oppression's mark.

A silent enemy visited the world in 2020’s tide,
Children, youth, adults, and elders died,
Three years of sadness and isolation reigned,
Nations united, their strength unchained
And the first cure from Germany and the U.S. was gained.

The United States, a nation always in peace’s quest,
Proved it again in the Middle East’s test,
Supporting the world in justice and aid,
A universal ally, unafraid.
A nation that welcomes those in need,
Strengthening freedom in thought and deed,
That noble symbol rests on Liberty Island indeed.

The Declaration of Independence
Is based on ideals of equality and liberty’s defense,
And the right to pursue happiness immense.
It inspires the world with its brave tone,
The U.S. is today a driving force well-known.

A declaration to the world with heartfelt might,
With liberty, democracy, equality, and light,
The right to life, to dream, to live,
The United States began to give.

The United States of America shall always be
A legend of justice, democracy, and liberty!

By Andrés V. Almina Negrete, MSc. - A.V.A.N.

Happy 4th of July!
Today and always, we celebrate this great nation.