[MGH]

During church today we stood and sang The Star Spangled Banner as an ending hymn. It has been a while since I have sang or heard all the verse and I got goose-bumps singing along and reading the words. So I thought it would be a good time to post all the verses:

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!



HAVE A GREAT INDEPENDENCE DAY EVERYONE!

[dunerunner]

sniff, sniff......alergies!

[RugerShootinGal]

Thank you MGH!!! That meant alot.

[zhuk]

Very moving anthem, MGH. Not surprised it means so much since your Independence was eventually won after great loss and suffering. Which must make freedom all the sweeter...and greater the desire to hold fast to what you have!




Happy Independence Day to everyone on FTF

[DrumJunkie]

One trait I seem to have picked up from my Father was a pretty chronic case of misty eye when I hear that song. That man would snap to attention every time he heard it. And heaven forbid that anyone in his line of sight would not take their hat off. Those old guys (Depression era kids-WWII Vets) had a sense of national pride I don't know existed before and it sure as hell is not as prevalent now. I miss him greatly but I am a little glad he is not seeing what is going on now. I just imagine him in the clock tower yelling "Take your hat off Barry!!!!". Though he did survive Carter so who knows.

[danf_fl]

That song has always been on my "Top Ten" list.

[CA357]

Thank you.

[lkd]

Too many people don't know how long it really is.

For those of you with a sense of humor, here's a piece on The Onion where they discover "missing" verses to it. Remember, it's "The Onion"

Restoration Of 'Star Spangled Banner' Uncovers Horrifying New Verses | The Onion - America's Finest News Source | Onion News Network