Memories of Virginia
Let us listen to the voices,
In this our year of jubilee,
The echo call to Founders kin,
The echo of Eternity.
From the Old James we answer back,
Names we love "Over the River,"
The friends of many memories.
And render thanks to the Great Giver
For life and love of those who sleep,
In Hollywood under the trees,
The Holy City on the James,
The Mecca Shrine of Memories.
I know your love of State and from your heart you will echo the tribute to the Old Dominion written by a son of Louisiana, who loved—
VIRGINIA.
"There is nowhere a land so fair
As old Virginia.
So full of song, so free from care
As old Virginia.
And I believe that happy land
That God prepared for mortal man
Is built exactly on the plan
Of old Virginia.
The roses nowhere bloom so white,
As in Virginia,
The sunshine nowhere seems so bright
As in Virginia,
The birds sing nowhere quite so sweet,
And nowhere hearts so lightly beat,
For heaven and earth do seem to meet
Down in Virginia.
[56]
