Flag Day, Old Glory, The Red, White, and Blue

The Star-Spangled Banner National Anthem of the United States By Francis Scott Key Approved by the Congress of the United States March 1931 You can expect to read much of the history of our Flag now that we arrived at Flag Day, June 14th of each year. All writings may be true, peppered with some fiction now and then, but none truly seriously intended. Instead of my repeating all that you will read or have read, I thought a refresher to be in order. Our population has purged itself from our historical norms that was. For the many, too many, that cannot recall the words to Old Glory’s glory at the outset of its life, permit me to reprint it (as allegedly written and recorded) for all to see. Please feel free to make it a “tear sheet. I.E. make copies for those Americans you love and care for that know not the words penned during the War of 1812. It is a sad thing that we’ve lost most of the parades that once carried (many of) our flag aloft, and in city park gatherings, waving in the breeze of the day; celebrations in connection with this wonderful day, designated as National Flag Day, signed by an Act of Congress August 3rd, 1949. Share these words with family, neighbors and friends, and learn all you can about our flag by reading about it. You could do worse by doing nothing. While I am at this, let me say for those of you that do not know. It is encouraged that you fly the flag every day. They even have flags that you can fly in inclement weather. However, out of respect, do not fly the flag at night without a light shining upon it. See, it is that simple to pay your respects to all who have made it possible for you to be proud of your flag and to hoist it up to be proudly seen. More human blood has been spent for the love of this flag and the Republic for which it stands, and for Liberty and Freedom for the people that live in this Republic, than for any other known flag in existence. That is why today you can comfortably and freely read these words with grateful thanks and heartfelt emotions, (respecting the punctuations) and share them with the ones you love. -- Bob Soucy, June 13,2010 The Star-Spangled Banner (Our National Anthem) Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly wee hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ 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 through the night that our flag was still there. Oh! 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, now conceals, now 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. Oh! 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 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 O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave! Oh! thus be it ever when freemen 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! By government permission the United States flag is kept flying continuously over Key’s grave at Frederick, Md., and over Fort McHenry. At San Francisco, California, a great statue of Key looks out over the Pacific. Thanks for visiting. -- Bob God Bless America