2025-26 Program Challenge
America, Why I Love Her
Due:
May 5, 2026
This challenge is based on the John Wayne song
America, Why I love her from 1976 to help celebrate America’s Quarter Millennial, semi quincentennial, BI sesquicentennial,
or 250 years.
Using the words in this song for inspiration.
Words to Why I Love Her
Sung by John Wayne Song writers: Billy Liebert, John Mitchum.
You ask me Why I Love Her?
Well, give me time. I’ll explain.
Have you seen a Kansas sunset
Or an Arizona rain?
Have you drifted on a bayou
Down Louisiana way?
Have you watched a cold fog drifting
Over San Francisco Bay?
Have you heard a bobwhite calling
In the Carolina pines,
At the Appalachia mines?
Does the call of Niagara thrill you
When you hear her waters roar?
Do you look with awe and wonder
At her Massachusetts shore…
Where men who braved a hard new world
First stepped on Plymouth’s rock?
And, do you think of them when you stroll
Along a New York City dock?
Have you seen a snowflake drifting
In the Rockies, way up high?
Have you seen the sun come blazing down
From a bright Nevada sky?
Do you hail to the Columbia
As she rushes to the sea?
Or bow your head at Gettysburg
At our struggle to be free?
Have you seen the mighty Tetons?
Have you watched an eagle soar?
Have you seen the Mississippi
Roll along Missouri’s shore?
Have you felt a chill at Michigan
When on a winter’s day
Her waters rage along the shore
In thunderous display?
Does the word “Aloha” make you warm?
Do you stare in disbelief
When you see the surf
Come roaring in at Waimea Reef?
From Alaska’s cold to the Everglades,
From the Rio Grande to Maine,
My heart cries out, my pulse runs fast
At the might of her domain!
You ask me why I love her?
I’ve a million reasons why —
My Beautiful America,
Beneath God’s wide, wide sky.
Rules are pretty simple!
- Quilt must have a perimeter/circumference of 250″ or less.
- Quilt must have a star or circle the size of a quarter on the front side.
- Project needs to have batting and backing
- It must have red or blue on the front. Amount can be small.
- You can use any type of fabric or technique, not limited to pieced, applique, embroidery (hand or machine), thread-painted, etc.
- Deadline is May 5, 2026, so start sewing.