<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'>A Gathering Place of Hopes and Dreams<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-indent:.5in'>By DeAnna Quietwater Noriega<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We stand here together as the heart of a nation,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Whose people have come from many far places,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The first to come arrived on foot over a land bridge,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>They came seeking a brighter future for their children,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>How could it not be so?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This land is a gathering place of many hearts,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our past can be read on our skins and faces,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It shapes our beliefs and colors our attitudes,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We must learn to accept and understand one another,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>How could it not be so?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We have struggled to bring justice and freedom<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Not just for some, but all of our people.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We have reached-out during times of trouble<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>After vicious attacks, storms, fires and earthquakes.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>How could it not be so?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We are a nation of immigrants and seekers,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We must acknowledge our shared humanity,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>And open our minds and hearts to one another,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For we are the children of THIS earth under one sky,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>How could it not be so?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>DeAnna Quietwater Noriega<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cell: 573-544-3511<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Email: <a href="mailto:dqnoriega@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>dqnoriega@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Author of <i>Fifty Years of Walking with Friends<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i>https://www.dldbooks.com/dqnoriega/</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>