Today, September 14 is the 200th Anniversary of The Star Spangled Banner The lyrics are: O say can you see by the dawns early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilights last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, Oer the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets 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, Oer the land of the free and the home of the brave? On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foes haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, oer the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the mornings first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream: Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave Oer 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 battles 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, Oer the land of the free and the home of the brave. O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved home and the wars desolation. Blest with victry and peace, may the Heavn 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 Oer the land of the free and the home of the brave An additional verse was penned later by Oliver Wendall Holmes: When our land is illumined with libertys smile, If a foe from within strikes a blow at her glory, Down, down with the traitor that tries to defile The flag of the stars, and the page of her story! By the millions unchained, Who their birthright have gained We will keep her bright blazon forever unstained; And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave, While the land of the free is the home of the brave. I encourage us all to really read the words as they speak to us, in todyas troubled times, more than ever
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 21:49:44 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015