O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE & THE HOME OF THE BRAVE

Since I normally do not have music on my blog, I decided that for this post, I'd give you the option of listening to Josh Groban sing the National Anthem of America.

FROM THE SMITHSONIAN WEBSITE:
Francis Scott Key

Attorney Francis Scott Key witnessed the twenty-five hour bombardment of Fort McHenry from a British troopship anchored some four miles away. He had boarded the ship to negotiate the release of an American civilian imprisoned by the British, and had been detained aboard as the bombardment began. On September 14, 1814, as the dawn’s early light revealed a flag flying over the fort, Key exultantly began jotting down the lines of the song that became our national anthem.

The Star-Spangled Banner

O say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight

O'er the ramparts we watch'd 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,

O 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, halve 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 - O 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 was'd 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!

O thus be it ever when freeman shall stand

Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation!
Blest with vict'ry and peace may the heav'n rescued land
raise the power that hath made and preserv'd 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!

HAPPY FLAG DAY. laurie