[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17664]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         POEM BY BRITTNI BATES

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                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 21, 2001

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I am amazed at the many heroic and kind 
deeds that we have seen since the horrible terrorist attacks of 
September 11.
  The Nation has developed a unity of spirit and patriotism such as I 
have never seen in my lifetime.
  This spirit has been captured in a beautiful way in a poem written by 
one of my constituents, Brittni Bates.
  This poem, entitled ``United We Stand,'' is even more impressive, 
considering it was written by a 13-year-old middle school student.
  This Nation would be a much better place if we had more young people 
like Brittni Bates, and I would like to call her poem to the attention 
of my colleagues and other readers of the Congressional Record.

                            United We Stand

     Blood was shed for this land, many men took a stand.
     Now, again we unite. Now . . . again we must fight

     We will protect our nation,
     and protect our civilization.

     Freedom was won with a heavy price.
     Now again we must roll the dice.

     United we stand for our land.
     So now we come to pray,
     to our Lord and nation, we will obey.

     The deaths of those were pointless and cruel.
     United we stand to protect our land.
     To banish hate and not discriminate.

     And reclaim the declaration to our nation.
     Terrorists beware!
     You have gone too far!
     For United We Stand To Protect Our Land.

     God Bless America, Home of the Brave.

     --by Brittni N. Bates, age 13, Holston Middle School

     

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