In honor of Memorial Day and all who have valiantly served for "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness," may this song, Let Freedom Ring, help keep the dream kindled in this storm.

This song came through me shortly after Election Day. Recording it was like riding a bronco--its meter made abrupt turns with math equation time signatures. I released it quickly, with its faint echoes of familiar patriotic music.

On post Election Day evening, I had scanned my Facebook feed and saw an image that a dear friend shared of a roaring red tsunami. My eyes couldn't look away. My stomach queased, my heart constricted, and my DNA screamed.

Images of traumatized people resembling my birth family flashed on the life-sized screen of my mind. The Manzanaar Internment Camp monu ...