What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear, "In west Philadelphia born and raised?" If you have turned on a television in the last 20 years you probably started singing in your head, "On the playground is where I spend most of my days. Chillin' out max and relaxin' all cool..." you get the picture. There are many of these phrases in American culture that we all know. Maybe it came from a song, or from a theme song, or even from a president's speech. Any way you slice it, these expressions, jingles and statements have touched our hearts, made us laugh, but more than anything they take us back. Here are 11 of American culture's memories.

1. "Maaaa Sa Ven Yahhhhhh...."

I think you know how it goes. Another all-time great, "The Lion King" was one of the highest earning films Disney ever made. In this movie we learned about love, loss and the circle of life. It is a staple in American childhood.

2. "A-B-C, Easy as 1-2-3"

After his time finished with the Jackson 5, Michael Jackson would go on to become the King of Pop in America and give us many songs that are still popular in pop culture today. This song was just one of many that he gave us that bring a pep to our step even so many years later.

3. "To Infinity..."

"Toy Story" was one of the greatest kids movies ever made. Sparking two incredibly successful sequels, this movie became an instant American classic. Let me know if you meet someone who doesn’t love watching the adventures of Buzz and Woody, because I have yet to find anyone.

4. "... And Beyond."

Furthering the effect these movies have had on American kids, my generation specifically, this was one of the most emotional scenes of any movie I had seen. "Toy Story" showed us that friends stick together, to the end, no matter what.

5."The best way to spread Christmas cheer..."

Flip through the channels any time in December and there is a good chance you'll find this movie on somewhere. In what has become a Christmas-time classic, Will Ferrell delivers arguably the best performance of his illustrious career. One of the most lovable movie characters ever depicted, Buddy the elf never fails to steal our hearts once the most wonderful time of year rolls around.

6. "Momma always said life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get."

In what was one of the best American movie of the 20th century, "Forrest Gump" was one of the best characters ever portrayed in a film. Tom Hanks did an unbelievable job, delivering a movie that accomplished nearly everything a movie could. It showed us a heart-warming love story, took us on an adventure, and taught us not to judge each other by the color of our skin or the sound of our voice. A staple in American entertainment.

7. "A long time ago, in a Galaxy far, far away..."

The highest grossing movie series of all-time, "Star Wars" has been a headline franchise for the last 40-years. My dad says that when "A New Hope" came out it was the coolest movie anyone had seen, the prequels that came out when I was growing up were some of my favorite movies, and, if they keep it up, the newest additions to the "Star Wars" family are sure to impress the next generation as well for many years to come.

8. "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Many different things have been accomplished by many different countries in history, but only one nation has its flag on the moon. When Neil Armstrong took those first steps out of Apollo 11, the entire country was brought together, and brought forward into a new era of history. And the rest of the world was brought with it.

9. "Ask not what your country can do for you..."

In one of the most memorable presidential addresses of his time as our country's leader, JFK challenged us to contribute to our success as a nation, he challenged us to come together. That was his mission, and he did everything he could to bring that to fulfillment until that fateful day in Dallas, Texas.

10. "I have a dream..."

Martin Luther King, the champion for civil rights, lived his life for the vision of bringing America together. He risked his life, and eventually lost it, trying to achieve his goal. The peak moment of his campaign, and probably the peak of the entire civil rights movement, was that speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

11. "Where were you when the world stopped turning, on that September day..."

The most heartbreaking day in American history since Pearl Harbor. It was one of those days were 15-years later everyone still remembers where they were. September 11, 2001. America was brought to its knees, and its citizens brought to tears, all in the span of only a few hours. However, in truly American fashion, the people came together and showed their resilience as they helped their brothers in need. When Alan Jackson's song comes on the radio, I am instantly taken back to that day. What stuck with me was this, in their darkest moments Americans come together, and 9/11 was the greatest example.

There are hundreds more of these phrases, songs and sayings that I'm sure we could come up with, but these definitely hold a place in history. From events that changed history, to movies that shaped our childhood, these things are sure to stick with us for many years to come.