[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11144]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HIGH ON A HILL: IN HONOR OF AMERICA'S BIRTHDAY AND THE 33RD ANNIVERSARY 
OF THE CAPITOL CONCERTS ON THIS 4TH OF JULY, BY THE COLBERT FAMILY AND 
                                  PBS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN B. LARSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 9, 2013

  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration 
of America's birthday, on this Fourth of July. Also, in honor of the 
Colbert family who created the Capitol Concerts annual Fourth of July 
celebration broadcast to millions across our Nation each year on PBS. 
This year marks its 33rd anniversary. I ask every American to take the 
time to remember all of our families in harm's way and their loved 
ones. And to reflect upon all of those who have fallen on battlefields 
of honor, and all of our wounded warriors across the Nation, so that we 
may be here this day. I submit this poem, penned by Albert Carey 
Caswell.

                             High on a Hill

     High!
     High on a Hill!
     As once each year,
     Our Nation is given so such a thrill. . .
     As so appears. . .
     America's great Birthday Party so here. . .
     As all out across this County Tis of Thee,
     This celebration so PBS!
     Broadcasting to young and old,
     Yea Jerry and Michael, they the Men, presenting broadcast 
           gold!
     And out to all of our Armed Forces, All in Harm's Way,
     As from where America's Greatest Honor so comes this day!
     As for all of them and their families we now so pray!
     And as the music starts,
     It so urges us all to so get up and so dance!
     To so celebrate this great romance,
     Of America's Birthday as another year does so advance!
     While all in the front rows,
     Are all of those, America's Greatest Heroes!
     Her Wounded Warriors,
     Who for all of us all have such selfless magnificence so 
           chose!
     As it's all so here in our Nation's Capitol!
     A place where history now so rules!
     As PBS and The Capitol Concerts,
     Brings to us the entertainment world's real who's who!
     All in Democracy's home,
     Asking us all to towards Freedom and Independence to so let 
           all our hearts so roam!
     As it all so began,
     When a great Boston family, the Colberts', so lent their 
           helping hand!
     To so create The Capitol Concerts celebration,
     33 years ago they created this great sensation!
     As high up on this Hill,
     As where they so broadcast to so give all a thrill!
     And the reception's better here still!
     So that all out across the heartland,
     America's homes are no so filled!
     So filled,
     With Rock and Roll, Country Western,
     To Classical music to inspire our very souls!
     For you will never so see,
     Such a more inspiring sight than all of these. . .
     All in the shadow of The United States Capitol,
     And The Washington Monument with fireworks exploding all in 
           DC!
     As your heart so begins to rule!
     As we all celebrate our Nation's Birthday,
     With all of our families so very cool!
     And maybe next year on your bucket list,
     Come to this city surrounded by consequence and so join all 
           of us!
     Come and sing and dance,
     And let Freedom ring as you fall for its romance!
     But, in the meantime. . .
     Turn on your flat screen, as a Nation we all so unite!
     As all of our Yankee Doodle Dandy Hearts,
     Climb up to such new heights!
     High on a Hill!
     For you will not so find a greater thrill!
     Than, America's Birthday all on The Fourth of July,
     All up on Capitol Hill!
     Happy Birthday, America,
     As Our Best is Yet to Come Still!

                          ____________________