I wanted to share with you all a short but I thought interesting story;
While watching fireworks last night, I was asked by my 13 yr old nephew why we light fireworks on the 4th of July. I explained it to him and he was pleasantly suprised! Whodathunk that we did all that for a reason!?!
I guess the fact that he didn't know (and you know that most kids out there don't know what it means) brought home to me how far our country has migrated away from our forefathers original intent, and how comfortable we have all become in our cooshy country.
Why do they not teach this in school? Why aren't our kids taught that the fireworks they enjoy so much every year on this auspicious day have a meaning? And that the meaning is steeped in the blood of our forefathers as they fought for our freedom, just as our sisters, brothers, mothers and fathers are doing today?
And should the Fourth of July be all about yesterday?
I have to admit that I don't know if my own kids know what the Star Spangled Banner is about, but I am going to make a point of asking them.
Huggs and love to you all, and I hope you had a Wonderful 4th of July!
Here is the history behind the Star Spangled Banner and here are the words.
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!
3 comments:
Ok, I'll admit my total ignorance. I never even knew there were more verses to the anthem. It gave me goosebumps to read them - thanks!!
You're right - we've migrated both directions from what the forefathers (and mothers)had in mind, I think. Would that we could back away from gross consumerism and return to more connectedness with the earth.
Ok, off my soapbox...
As a kid, one of the places we lived for a while was Baltimore. I actually got to see the real Star Spangled Banner at the museum at Ft. McHenry. What an honor. We also traveled to Washing DC. To see the real Declaration of Independence was an honor. Then later, when I became a soldier, I learn of what those people really did for all of us and was proud to take up a place to do my part. Yes, I'm a sucker for the 4th, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day.
And I would do it again - stand and be willing to give my life for our freedoms to continue on.
Thank you, Becky.
I meant to say that I agree too - we need to get back to the important things in life. we've been sufferring from "Affluenza" for too long. :)
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