I was born and raised for the first half of my life in the capital of India. My birth country was recovering from one war as my parents brought me into this world when, a couple of years later, it had to engage in another war with a neighboring country.
My younger sister was born in blackout conditions amid air-raid sirens and, more than three decades later, I still remember that journey from hospital to home like it happened yesterday. My entire pre-teen and teen years were spent being in a perpetual state of alertness, always looking out for (and sometimes ducking from) terrorists' crude homemade bombs left on the public buses, transistors, dolls and pretty much anything.
My sister and I survived those dreadful years, but some of my closest friends did not.
Patriotism ran high during my early years and I believe those experiences contributed significantly to the making of who I am today. I am an American citizen now and America is my country by choice.
As I watch my adoptive country being torn apart by two different wars, I am reminded of my early years and the solace and inner strength I used to find from some of my favorite patriotic songs. On this Fourth of July, I share a slightly amended version of one particularly poignant song that I grew up chanting from the bottom of my heart and soul.
While the translated version does not rhyme at all, it is my hope that the message it conveys is not lost. I do so to honor the memory of the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and our country. Only because of courageous people like them are we able to continue celebrating our Independence Day year after year.
O good people of my country
Let us all celebrate our
independence day
And on this blessed day, let us go out
And wave our flags and watch the fireworks
But don't forget that on the battle fronts
Brave soldiers have lost their lives
Take the time to remember those ...
Remember those who never came back home
..........Who never came back home.
O the good people of my country
I hope your eyes well up with tears
As you pause to remember the
sacrifice
Of those who have died for our
freedom
When our country was wounded
And freedom was in grave danger
To their last breath they fought
Then finally laid down their lives
While keeping us free and secure
They made the ultimate sacrifice
As you pause to remember the sacrifice
Of those who have died for our freedom
When the country was celebrating Fourth of July
They were fighting in the
battleground
And while we were all watching
fireworks
They were facing a hail of bullets
We are blessed for these soldiers
of ours
We are blessed for the lives they have lived
As you pause to remember the
sacrifice
Of those who have died for our
freedom
Whether black or white or any race
Whether Christian or Jew or any religion
Every single brave soul who died in the battlefield
Was first and foremost an American
The blood that was spilled in the wars
That blood was American through and through
As you pause to remember the sacrifice
Of those who have died for our freedom
Even though their bodies were bloodied
Still they continued to fight for our freedom
Each soldier killed multiple enemies
Then ultimately fell down unconscious
As their end time came nearer
They quietly whispered "It's time for us to go"
Stay Happy, our beloved
countrymen and women
Stay Happy, our beloved
countrymen and women
As we now embark upon a new
journey
As we now embark upon a new
journey
Oh how passionate these soldiers were!
Oh how proud people these soldiers were!
As you pause to remember the
sacrifice
Of those who have died for our
freedom
Lest you dare forget their sacrifices
That's why this story was written
As you pause to remember the
sacrifice
Of those who have died for our
freedom
God Bless our fallen heroes
God Bless our Armed Forces
And God Bless the United States
of America
-- Rajat Jain is a Gardnerville resident.
