Polson has an official anthem

Did you know that Polson has an official "anthem?"

It's "Polson, My Beautiful Home," with words and music by Neal and Karen Lewing.

They wrote it for the diamond jubilee play, "Valley Full of Diamonds," which was performed in 1985 by 150 area residents on the Polson High School stage. The city council unanimously proclaimed the song as Polson's official anthem in May 1985.

It doesn't seem possible that Polson's centennial is coming up in just five years, but it is. Looking ahead, the Lewings have been teaching the song to school kids anticipating many of them will be taking part in a centennial celebration in 2010.

Here are the words, sung to a catchy, bouncy tune. I'd sing it for you but computer typesetting technology hasn't advanced that far — and if it had, my voice would create a massive meltdown of computers and presses.

Chorus:

Polson, oh Polson, the Missions are your dome.

At the foot of the lake where the whitecaps break,

You are my beautiful home.

First verse:

As "The Foot of the Lake" you became a town in the year of 1910.

You're named for David Polson and you've been the same since then.

The Salish called you 'Pied'e Lac,' a jewel, we can't deny.

Your valley full of diamonds shines beneath your western sky.

Chorus

Second verse:

From Wildhorse Island, through the narrows where your eagles soar,

From snowcapped peaks with crystal creeks that reach your rocky shore,

Your spirit touches every soul throughout this Flathead land.

Oh magic part within our heart, reach out your loving hand.

Chorus

After compiling much of the Golden Jubilee edition of the Flathead Courier in 1960 and the Diamond Jubilee edition in 1985, I commented that I didn't think I'd be around to work on a Centennial issue in 2010. Maybe I'll have to re-think that!