Friday, June 5, 2009

Patriotism...its still around

Tonight we spent the evening at the Dr. Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas. We (friends and family) enjoyed a fabulous evening watching the Rough Riders play baseball..what a great way to spend a summer evening.

There was a moment this evening that made me smile from ear to ear, get the warm fuzzies, and stand proud. It happened when I was standing in line to get my food for the evening. We happened to have AYCE tickets (all you can eat) and I was standing in a line with many other people waiting my turn to pick out a hot dog, brawt, hamburger or chicken sandwich and all the fixings that go along with such a tasty meal when the National Anthem began to be sung. None of us in line could see the young lady singing or even see the flag from where we were standing, but at the moment people realized what was being sung men began removing their hats and hands quickly went over hearts.

People stopped adding sauerkraut to their brawt or lettuce and tomato to their hamburgers and instead they paused. One by one almost everyone in line turned to face the direction of the field. Hands were over hearts (including the woman with a broken right arm, she made due with her left) to honor that moment. The moment when our National Anthem was being sung proudly. I was touched also to see so many mouthing the words. I was blessed to see that many still honor our country.

When was the last time you heard these words or sang along? I can't say that I have ever heard or read the complete song.

Below is our National Anthem in its entirety.


Oh, 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, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' 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 thro' 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 on 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 wash'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 freemen shall stand,
Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause 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

In 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote the poem, Defense of Fort McHenry. The poem was later put to the tune of (John Stafford Smith's song) The Anacreontic Song, modified somewhat, and retitled The Star Spangled Banner. Congress proclaimed The Star Spangled Banner the U.S. National Anthem in 1931.

1 comment:

Chad & Amy said...

It has been a long time since I have heard the national anthem...except when Chad sings "Jose can you see" to Lauren :)

Engagement Picture

Engagement Picture
Just wanted to add another pic to our blog and this is one I really like!!