There’s something new appearing on Main Street U.S.A. It’s the words "God Bless America."

They’re in storefront windows, emblazoned on T-shirts and riding shotgun on American-brand trucks. I’ve even seen "God Bless America" on the side of a combine, sitting in the middle of amber waves of grain.

And across the country, schoolchildren are joining hands and voices to sing the song God Bless America that we sang in the classrooms of our childhood. I can still remember holding the worn pages of the songbook as we lifted the beloved words in a chorus of childish voices. And if I closed my eyes back then, I could picture the snow-capped mountains, the endless prairies and the pounding surf, even though I’d never been much beyond the walls of the schoolhouse. We sang with fervor, because in our hearts we knew God would bless our America.

In those days of our youth, we used God’s name in hymns and prayers. And we knew that to use it otherwise meant the strong possibility of not sitting down for a few days. God’s name was spoken with awe and respect. But over the years, the context in which we use his name has changed. We hear it said to emphasize a statement, point a finger in anger or just fill a gap when our vocabulary fails us. It’s even become a staple on our radio waves and TV sitcoms.

Where we once shuddered at the thought of glibly calling out anything but "gosh" or "gee," the word "God" has become basic to our everyday dialogue. That’s why it’s refreshing to see the words "God bless" reverently reappearing on the American scene.

Folks in the United States are truly calling out to God to help us, protect us and give us the upper hand in this time of war. From past history, Americans know God hears our cry.

In recent years, though, he has heard his name called out over and over again. And not because we needed help. So these days, let’s hope God doesn’t think we’re just crying wolf once more. Because this time we really mean it.

God, bless America. Please.