Hallmark!
Today is National Anthem Day which celebrates The Star Spangled Banner as the official national anthem of the United States.
In 1814, a young lawyer named Francis Scott Key wrote a poem called the Defense of Fort McHenry. He penned the verses after just witnessing the British attack on Baltimore Harbor during the war of 1812. The sight of the American flag flying triuphantly over Fort McHenry in the morning inspired his legendary words.
Key decided to set his piece to music and borrowed the tune from a popular song, To Anacreon in Heaven. Not long after it was first published, people began referring to the piece as the Star Spangled Banner. The song became a success and bands started playing if during public events and military occasions. In March 1931, over a hundred years of having been written, it became the official anthem of the United States.
To celebrate today, refresh your memory and get know all the words to versus two, three and four.
If you cannot see the bright side, polish the dull side
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
The whole inspiration of our life as a nation flows out from the waving folds of this banner.
Author Unknown
I’m not proud to say I had to google the words to the rest of the versus. I did know the first one and have sang it often. It does tell a great story of our flag still hanging for all to see.
I’m very proud of our anthem and of being an American, so will celebrate today and fly our flag for all my neighbors to see.
Verse 2. On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep
Where the foe’s haughty host is dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze , o’re the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, have conceals, have discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the mornings first beam
In full glory rejected now shines in the stream,
Tis the star spangled banner - O long may it wave
O’re the land of the free and the home of the brave!
3. And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battles’s confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footstep’s 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’re the land of the free and the home of the brave.
4. O thus be it ever when freeman shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blessed with vict’ry and peace may the heaven rescued land
Praise the power the hath made and preserved us as 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.
I almost forgot to share my recipe for this Friday:
Crispy Tuna Cakes
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted, divided
3/4 cup milk divided
2 cups stuffing mix
1 can, 12 oz., tuna , drained and flaked
2 Tbsp butter
In a large bowl, combine the eggs, a third of the soup and 1/4 cup milk. Stir in stuffing mix and tuna. Shape into 8 patties.
In a large skillet brown patties in butter on each side or until heated through. Meanwhile in a sauce pan heat remaining soup and milk. Serve with patties.
It’s fast and easy to make and I like to add peas to the sauce for mine. You can put leftover sauce on rice to eat with the patties.
I hope you all have a FANTASTIC Friday!
COUNTING MY GIFTS
You’re the emblem of the land I love. The home of the free and the brave.
George M. Cohan
Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for. There is truly is always something to be thankful for.
11,095. for our National Anthem
11,096. for a flag to fly today
11,097. for great song writers like Francis Scott Key
5 comments:
Celebrate and fly the American flag today !
I love America and I love our National Athem.
I am also ready for some sun and some dry weather!
I don't know that I've ever learned all the verses, but that's a great challenge! A recent storm KO'd our flag holder; it makes me sad to see the flag propped up in the sun room ... almost like an afterthought. Need to get a tall someone to come over and remedy that situation.
You do beat all. What an inspiring post, THANKS. I will admit I do not remember reading the 'other' verses of the Nat'l Anthem. Thanks for posting them, they are inspiring. We do love this country. We do not all agree, but in a pinch this country comes together.
Love from NC
Sherry & jack
We have a super tall flag pole at the lake house. :)
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