Mei Land waerrd ee Yaahr elder!

Well am Munndaag waerrd es Tschulei sei un dihr wisst was sell mehnt: widder Zeit zu feiere! Uff em 4. Tschulei waerrd unser Land 248 Yaahre alt sei! Ya, as dihr schunn wisst, zerick im Yaahr 1776 hemmer uns “Macht’s gut” zu England un ihr Keenich gsaat! So selle Woch waerre mir viel Picnics un Partys hawwe. Ich glaab ee paar Biere waerre aa gedrunke. Un nadierlich gebt’s Feierwerks!

Ich hab gedenkt ich waerr eich zwee Dinge gewwe um mit zu feiere. Yedes Kind do in Amerikaa muss ee Ding lanne: “Es Verschprechnis zum Faahne.” Mir fange yeder Schuldaag mit sell aa. Do iss es uff Deitsch:

Ich versprech gedrei zu sei, zu dem Faahne vun de Vereinigte Schtaaten vun Amerikaa un des Land, fer des es schteht; ee Land, unnich Gott, ewich vereinicht, mit Freiheit un Gerechtichkeit fer Alle.

Dihr alle wisst schunn unser National Anthem: The Star Spangled Banner. Ich hab nix gege selles Lied un ich sing es mit Schtolz. Awwer es gebt aa en anneres Lied, es aa arrig schee iss un hot eppes mit unsrem Land zu duh. Es Lied “Amerikaa” iss arrig gut unnich uns Deitsche bekannt. Die Melodie iss vun em Lied “My Country tis of the thee” es iss aa die gleiche Melodie zu em England sei National Anthem: “Gott Segnet der Keenich.” Fer uns Amerikaaner singe mir nadierlich “Gott segnet der Keenich” gaar net…mir bleiwe bei “My Country tis of thee.” Mir hen schunn lang nix meh zu duh mit re Englische Keenichliche Familye.

Ich find die Wadde, die der gut bekannte Deitscher Schreiwer un Gedichter, der John Birmelin, gschriwwe hot so arrig schee. Die Wadde sin warricklich fer mich arrig mehningsvoll. Wann ich des Lied sing, fiehl ich mich arrig schtolz en Amerikaaner zu sei un aa en Deitscher zu sei. Generations vun meinre Familye hen do in Amerikaa gelebt. Ich hab Voreldere die fer unsere Unabhaengigskeit gefochdet hen un aa in em Birgergrieg gefochdet hen. Die hen in em Zwedde Welt Grieg gefochdet um Freiheit in re Welt zu bringe. Vielleicht iss es aa so mit eire Familye?

Mit Schtolz un Dankbaarkeit, kennt dihr sell scheenes Lied singe. Dihr kennt die Melodie, so geht drauss un singt es arrig laut. Loss mol dei Nochbere wisse ass du schtolz Deitsche zu sei bischt!

Amerikaa

Mei Land, ich sing vun dir
siess iss die Freiheit mir,
do will ich sei;
so wie die alde Leit,
so fiehl ich aa noch heit.
Sin dir zu yedre Zeit
immer gedrei.

Do iss en Audio Klip:

Well, on Monday it will be July and you know what that means: time again to celebrate! On the 4th of July our country will be 248 years old! Yes, as you already know, back in the year 1776 we said “Goodbye” to England and their king. So this week there will be many picnics and parties. I believe a few beers will also be had. And naturally there will also be fireworks!

I thought I would give you two things to celebrate with. Every child here in America has to learn one thing: “The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.” We begin every school day with it. Here it is in PA Dutch:

I pledge allegiance to the flag, of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

You all know our national anthem: The Star Spangled Banner. I have nothing against that song and I sing it with pride. But there is another song, that is really pretty and has something to do with our country. The song “America” is very well-known among us PA Dutch. The melody is from the song “My Country tis of thee” and it is also the same melody as England’s national anthem: “God Save the King.” For us Americans we naturally do not sing “God Save the King”, we prefer to stay with “My Country tis of thee.” For a long time now we have had nothing to do with the English royal family.

I find the words, that the well-known PA Dutch author and poet, John Birmelin, wrote to be so pretty. The words are truthfully very meaningful to me. When I sing this song, I feel proud to be an American and also a Pennsylvania Dutchman. Generations of my family have lived here in America. I have ancestors who fought for our independence and also in the Civil War. They fought in the second World War to bring freedom to the world. Maybe it is the same with your family?

With pride and thankfullness, you can sing this beautiful song. You know the melody, so go outside and sing it really loudly. Let your neighbors know that you are proud to be Dutch!

America

My country, I sing of thee
sweet is the freedom,
here is where I want to be;
just like the older people,
I feel the same way today.
To you in all times
I will always be faithful.