Editor, Gazette-Journal:

As July the 4th approaches, patriotic themes appear and patriotic ideas are, for some, revived.

One of the most beautiful and stirring poems in American literature is Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, most commonly known as “O Ship of State,” written in 1849.

The Republic from 

“The Building of the Ship”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Thou, too, sail on, O Ship of State! Sail on, O Union, strong and great! Humanity with all its fears, With all the hopes of future years, Is hanging breathless on the fate! We know what Master laid the keel, What Workmen wrought thy ribs of steel, Who made each mast, and sail, and rope, What anvils rang, what hammers beat, In what forge and what a heat Were shaped the anchors of thy hope! Fear not each sudden sound and shock, ’Tis of the wave and not the rock; ’Tis but the flapping of the sail, And not a rent made by the gale! In spite of rock and tempest’s roar, In spite of false lights on the shore, Sail on, nor fear to breast the sea! Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee, Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears, Our faith triumphant o’er our fears, Are all with thee—are all with thee!

This poem is a reminder for many who are despairing that our ship is being dismantled, that here is the model of the ideal ship. The original poem was 80 pages long.

In January of 1941, FDR wrote lines from this poem to Winston Churchill as encouragement in facing the crisis of what was World War II.

Read this poem aloud and consider every word!

Elena Siddall

Port Haywood, Va.