This 1957 work was written in response to an invitation from the National Education Association and the Music Educators National Conference to write a choral work to celebrate an important anniversary. Hanson chose to set two excerpts from Walt Whitman, taken from "An Old Man's Thoughts of School" and "Thou Mother with thy equal brood", with a view to write something not only inspiring but easy for school choruses and orchestras to play. The result is a twelve minute piece which Hanson tried to imbue with "all of the dramatic impact of which I was capable". The work opens with a calm introduction. Just before the entrance of the chorus, it is easy to recognize the harmonic progression of the second symphony, used purposely for its long association with the National Camp Music at Interlochen. The chorus sings the introductory lines before the orchestra begins an agitato section that grows to a climax, upon which the chorus sings loudly "And these I see, these sparkling eyes". The intensity does not decrease but there is a quick change of rhythm for the rest of the stanza. The next three lines - three questions - are stated quasi recitativo a capella, in a hushed tone, until the last line blooms in a rich orchestral passage. Just before the end of the following stanza, the orchestra plays a tune reminiscent of the second symphony and the intensity diminishes to reach a momentary rest. The second Whitman excerpt begins again a capella: "Sail, sail thy best, ship of Democracy". The orchestra is silent for almost two minutes until the end of the line "Theirs, theirs as much as thine, the destination - port triumphant". Then it enters again in a crescendo that continues all the way to the ending which repeats the beginning of the second excerpt. The work concludes triumphantly.

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