I believe in its present--in the men and women and children about me whose working together
in courage and perseverance wrought results of which I am proud; public treasures
of past and present await to enrich me; churches devoted and untiring; a municipal
water system that is the city's pride; paved streets of great worth; an auditorium
my neighbors and me. I believe in the spirit of good will and neighborliness that
brought these things to pass.
I believe in its future--in the men and women who will come after me.
I believe that what has been done is only the beginning of a greater work
that will be done, that the next generation will be nobler and better than this, that
out of our hopes and labors will grow a community democratic, prosperous and strong,
an honor to America and to God.