Join the Oneota Film Festival at Vesterheim Commons for a FREE film screening of From Sea to Shining Sea on Tuesday, October 28th from 3-4:40pm. The filmmaker, JOHN DE GRAAF will be in attendance to answer questions about the film.
From Sea to Shining Sea
Katharine Lee Bates and the Story of America the Beautiful
America the Beautiful may be America’s most beloved song. But few know about the fascinating life of the writer behind it.
This film explores the rich life of poet, professor and social reformer Katharine Lee Bates, author of AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL. As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Bates’ story reminds us of the beauty and ideals of our nation as well as its shortcomings, and honors the unbroken chain of Americans striving to live up to those ideals.
In a time of deep division, this film aims to inspire unity and reflection, celebrating the beauty of our nation while acknowledging its flaws and the ongoing journey to fulfill its promises.
Inspired by the sweeping vistas of the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains she saw from Colorado’s Pike’s Peak in 1893, Bates penned lyrics that reflect both a love for her country and a desire for reform, while honoring generations of Americans striving toward its its most compelling ideals.
