How many times have you heard John DeBrine say, “Cape Cod, the home of America”? Well, the number is great, but the statement is greater. Since the Pilgrims first landed on Cape Cod, the saying is accurate; but did you know there is another event that makes John’s words even truer. The event was the birth of a little girl and, eventually, the birth of a great patriotic hymn about America.

It all started August 12, 1859 in Falmouth, Massachusetts, when Katharine Lee Bates came into this world. After graduating from Wellesley, the noted girls’ school, she taught at a high school, then returned to Wellesley as an instructor in English literature. Miss Bates’ first inspiration for writing patriotic verse occurred in 1892 in recognition of the 400-year anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of America. The following year, she was invited to do summer school teaching in Colorado. It was during this time that a series of events led to the writing of the patriotic hymn.

Her first stop was Chicago and the great Columbian Exposition with its gleaming white buildings; or as Katharine called them, “Alabaster cities gleam.” (It is interesting to note that D.L. Moody, the evangelist, was also there at this time with gospel tents greeting the visitors. I wonder if Katharine met him?) She then continued westward passing through great fields of grain and fruited plains, on to the purple mountain majesties of Colorado. Finally, she arrived at Pike’s Peak. She traveled to the top by ox cart. Later that evening, she put all her thoughts to paper and wrote “America, the Beautiful” in the Antlers Hotel in Colorado Springs. My wife, Linda, and I have traveled up Pike’s Peak by car. When we arrived at the top, we discovered a 12’ high plaque honoring Katharine Lee Bates at the very spot where she received the final inspiration for writing “America, the Beautiful.”

America is beautiful indeed, and Miss Bates’ patriotic hymn expresses it so well. We are a nation founded under God and blessed of God. We would do well to reconsider the words of this great song as we find ourselves at this pivotal point in history. Perhaps, “America, the Beautiful” will rekindle a love for our country and a desire to serve it and the Lord who founded it.

Let’s return to our heritage—Cape Cod, the home of America and the birthplace of Katharine Lee Bates.