Love for one's country is an intensely personal thing. That's one reason why answers to the question "What does America mean to you?" can be surprisingly different.

U.S. Senator Paul Tsongas once said, "America is hope. It is compassion. It is excellence. It is valor."

Yes, America is all of these - and more. She is also liberty, opportunity, sacrifice, generosity, optimism, friendliness, and shared ideals. America is a celebration of personal independence in a culturally diverse nation founded on the principles of fundamental rights and self-government.

Join these 36 authors from various backgrounds and life experience as they share personal thoughts and stories about what America means to them . . . and why.

Contributors: Carol Baird, Jeff Brady, Eddie Burchfield, Rachel Coggins, Pamela Cosel, Jennifer Cotney, Lin Daniels. Bonnie Evan, Glenda Ferguson, Joanne Fleck, Jasmine Gatti, Pam Grove, Leah Hinton, Heather Holbrook, Patricia Huey, Penny L. Hunt, Debbie Jansen, Lillian Joyce, Liz Kimmel, Debra Kornfield, Jim Layton, John Leatherman, Allyson West Lewis, Russell MacClaren, Terry Magness, Karen Masteller, Cristina Moore, Alice H. Murray, Michelle Newman, Beverly Robertson, Kim Robinson, Michael Shoemaker, Desiree St. Clair Spears, Judson I. Stone, Jan White, Kenneth Avon White