This is the day we celebrate our country's freedom.
During the war of 1812, while on the deck of a truce ship, Francis Scott Key paced nervously as a fierce battle raged nearby during the British attack on the harbor of Baltimore. as District Attorney of Georgetown and a spiritual lay leader of his church, Key had been sent by President James Madison to negotiate with the British for a physician who had been taken prisoner. All night Key and his party were detained as the heavy bombardment continued. When the firing suddenly stopped just before morning, Key was fearful of the outcome; but as he looked hesitantly across the water, he saw the American flag still triumphantly flying with the assurance of our nation's freedom!
With joyful relief, Key wrote his poem hastily on the back of an envelope and put finishing touches on it after being released later that evening. One month later the song was published, accompanied by an old hunting tune, "Anacorn in Heaven," attributed to John Stafford Smith of England. Although enthusiastically received by the people, the song was not officially adopted by Congress as out national anthem until March 3 1931.
O 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 rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof thru 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?
O thus be it ever, when free men shall stand between their loved 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 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!
taken from Amazing Grace 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions
by: Kenneth W. Osbeck
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2 comments:
All this really bring back the memories of learning this in school...*shudders*
Great stuff! The only thing I didnt agree with is that the tune provided was actually, according to many films and resources we had to go through in school, a drinking song. Hunting song may have been the nice way of putting it, as many hunters of the time enjoyed a swill of "tea" while hunting. I think it is pretty cool how a lowly country with poor farmers and a bunch of angry merchants could build one of the strongest countries this world has ever witnessed..Despite the odd notes and stressed rhyme-scheme...If I had to name an Anthem with such an awesome back story I would name this one!
God Bless America (In the way that he has blessed us and we should keep him in our minds...not that he should bless us...I included that because I am afraid of the Numa guy on the videos at Youth...)
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