Our National Anthem

by Goingray58

With the fourth upcoming — a reminder about the national anthem you might hear and about what you will not hear.

 

As is often the case, Francis Scott Key just happened to be there and was inspired to pen the words of a Poem later set to music.

The Star Spangled Banner was not even the Poem’s original name, nor was the music it was set to original.

It was composed in September of 1814 just after the British bombed Fort McHenry in the war of 1812.

 

Attribution:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/key-pens-star-spangled-banner

 

As we can see by the dates the poem was authored, more than one conflict has been fought for freedom before its creation.

We have fought and will fight many, as freedom to choose ones circumstance, is often resisted by those who would control rather than enable.

 

It wasn’t until much later that the then “The Star Spangled Banner” was made THE National Anthem (there were several contenders up to that point).

 

On July 27, 1889, Secretary of the Navy Benjamin F. Tracy signed General Order #374, making “The Star-Spangled Banner” the official tune to be played at the raising of the flag.

 

“The Star-Spangled Banner” was recognized for official use by the United States Navy in 1889, and by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson in 1916, and was made the national anthem by a congressional resolution on March 3, 1931 (46 Stat. 1508, codified at 36 U.S.C. § 301), which was signed by President Herbert Hoover.

 

Attribution:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner

 

I encourage everyone to read the full lyrics.

It is my thought that there are two reasons why the entire anthem is not played that are evident in the lyrics.

The first, is that in general our fellow citizens, for the most part have no tolerance for anything that is much more than entertainment.

(Editorial)

As it is often too much trouble to stand or place their hand over their heart.

It is too much trouble to listen and wait an extra few seconds before they sit or get the next beer.

 

The Second, is quite simply the last verse (but read all of it).

My interpretation, and is supported in many other writings of the time, is that God gave us this nation for our obedience to his word.

Neither men nor women of any stripe or condition gave us the U.S.A.

(notice even the acronym United States of America says we are a collection of accenting Sates, not one country of subjects. But that is a different conversation)

Not to diminish the many who have given all they have to give, to make the U.S.A. free and keep it that way.

Far from it. The stories of bravery, self-sacrifice and leadership to do so are legion and we could not be free without that.

They deserve all the honor, praise, thanks and support we can give them.

Certainly more than they get from ungrateful leadership as well as citizenry.

 

I’ll step out on a limb and say any sacrifice given to keep America free reinforces the last verse.

To step further out. It is why the last verse is not sung, and I would suggest that the Anthem will be under attack sooner rather than later for that reason.

I’ll go out even further and say if God ordains a thing or denies a thing it cannot be gainsaid or negotiated.

 

After you read the verse and think about it ask yourself a question:

What must “We The People” do to have an America, as United States where Freedom and Liberty are once again the rule rather than the exception?

 

Read the full Poem/Song. I can’t do it without hearing the music, and seeing faces no longer here.

But I see faces that still are here as well, and that is important too.

Oh, 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 rocket’s 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 through 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 in 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 home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n 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
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Attribution:

http://www.usa-flag-site.org/song-lyrics/star-spangled-banner/

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9 Comments

  1. Panhandle Rancher says:

    Great post GG58 and ever suitable for the upcoming national holiday. I couldn’t agree more with your tenor regarding our countrymen.

    Having spent some time as a tenant of Marine Corps Base Quantico, I particularly enjoyed standing at attention and ‘facing the music’ that could be heard all over the base when the National Emblem was raised in the morning and lowered at night. Out of sight the flag might be from some of us, but facing the music and braced we were.

    I fondly remember being at Ft. McHenry one fine day with my family when the huge National Emblem was lowered. I found this clip showing such a lowering:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyRxW8qbI7M.
    See how respectful the citizens are? Formed up at attention, hands over heart? Sadly, I jest.

    On the evening of the fateful battle, a storm flag was run up the mast. That flag was 17×25′. The next morning and signaling victory, a garrison flag was run up the pole. This flag, sewn by flag and pennant maker Mary Pickersgill, was 30×42′ with 15 stars and 15 stripes.

    Back to my day at the Fort. The Park Rangers asked those watching if any would help folding the Emblem. Sudden persistent silence. My son who was about 10 back then spoke up. In a loud boy voice, he announced that his family folds the flag in front of their house every evening. We would be proud to help. As my family stepped forward (a 42 foot long flag takes some planning and a lot of people to fold), I struggled to hold back tears as I contemplated not only those events that took place at this Fort so long go but also the little patriot at my side.

    Long may she wave, my friends.

    PR

  2. goingray58 says:

    Thanks guys.. I ran across it in my reading as often i do and it spun me into trying to remember, what I might have forgotten or thinking what I did not know. I could have dug for days, but I stopped when my thoughts went to my memories of days on the field as an athlete when the entire field, would stop, and turn to face the music as PR said. Helmets, or hats off, standing erect, soldiers young and old past and present at attention hand over heart. Then I contrasted what we have now.. our pro athletes, a first lady for God’s sake that can’t be bothered to stop texting.. and a president that places his hand neither on the bible nor over hie heart. (sorry) I felt angry and un-moored and thought to write some of it.. certainly not all .. Were someone to forget to take off a cover it would not be tolerated but slapped from their head, lecture, and maybe punishment to follow the conclusion. How did we get here ? To a place where the utter quantity of sacrifice given to keep that flag waving free can be so callously disregarded. The better question and the more complex is how do we get to a place where we have reverence back that is not be dismissed.
    So I wrote.. I still haven’t shaken it really and did not sleep last night .. a combination of events I suppose.. I did find some solace in a poem by Kipling that partially answers the question, and it is funny how you are lead to things that way.

    Take a read if you like :
    “The Gods of the Copybook Headings” a poem published by Rudyard Kipling
    http://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/poems_copybook.htm

    You have to dig a little to find out who those gods are in historical context
    A copybook (or copy book) is a book used in education that contains examples and blank space for writing down copies of the examples by imitation.. A page of a copy book typically starts with a copybook heading: a printed example of what should be copied. Originally used to promote spelling, reading, comprehension, punctuation, and vocabulary.
    As wiki says though not clearly..
    The copy book was used to beat into the young mind by wrote, the things considered needful to memorize. In such a way one might inculcate by rote, something that one would naturally reject when older and less impressionable. Those young minds are trusting that what has been ordained must be what is needed and necessary. The “Gods” then of the “copybook heading” are the adults in charge of determining what should or should not be taught. The problem here is obvious if you think about it. Hitler did as much with his Youth, and that is not the only example even as we speak.
    But you guys already know this… I doubt I will let it go until I can gain a little more insight.. I will not be blithely disregarding the day nor the spirit of the day on any day.

    sorry for the ebook.. it bugs me .. I know I hide it so well 🙂
    I appreciate you guys as a community and JR for keeping it going.. Have a fun a reverent 4th.
    GG58

  3. Panhandle Rancher says:

    GG58,

    GODS OF THE COPYBOOK HEADINGS, as true now as it ever.
    I’d not read this poem before. Thanks.

    I append the following for you old timers who may not realize military salute policy has changed:

    SEC. 595. MILITARY SALUTE FOR THE FLAG DURING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
    BY MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES NOT IN
    UNIFORM AND BY VETERANS.
    Section 301(b)(1) of title 36, United States Code, is amended by
    striking subparagraphs (A) through (C) and inserting the following new
    subparagraphs:
    “(A) individuals in uniform should give the
    military salute at the first note of the anthem and
    maintain that position until the last note;
    “(B) members of the Armed Forces and veterans who
    are present but not in uniform may render the military
    salute in the manner provided for individuals in
    uniform; and
    “(C) all other persons present should face the flag
    and stand at attention with their right hand over the
    heart, and men not in uniform, if applicable, should
    remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it
    at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart.
    Note: Part (C) applies to those not in the military and non-veterans. The phrase “men not in uniform” refers to civil service uniforms like police, fire fighters, and letter carriers – non-veteran civil servants who might normally render a salute while in uniform.

    Those who have not served might find USMC flag protocol interesting:

    http://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publications/MCO%20P10520.3B.pdf (In particular see Annex D, Section1006).

    Freedom is never free.
    http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5482/1686/1600/Marine%20Salute.0.jpg

    PR

    1. goingray58 says:

      You know .. we put in place ceremony to draw attention to the things we believe are important to remember. In today’s society where we can tolerate something that will take no linger than it takes to microwave something. AND we thin it’s ok to say I’m not doing it that way because
      1.) I don’t want to so I don’t have to.
      2.) Whatever you want isn’t as important as what I want.
      Bunch of whiny babies!

      Mostly I think we revere nothing, because we are not taught or are taught not to sadly.
      Self interest and PC are eroding us at a rapid pace.

      1. Panhandle Rancher says:

        Traditions endure because they’re passed from generation to generation. When I was a school boy, each morning began with the class standing, facing the US flag (each room had one) and pledging allegiance. After that, we pledged to the Texas flag. I always thought the two were in conflict but that’s the way I thought. School assemblies always started with the pledge and a prayer. Both were rare as hen’s teeth when my kiddos were in school.

        My generation was piss poor at passing proper traditions and instead passed on a tradition of protest against all authority. That traitor Jane Fonda was so typical of the era.

        PR

    1. goingray58 says:

      Sung ? no.. I do a “Johnny cash” singing style… I talk it to music .. in this case it plays in my head as I recite.. not that I try to .. it’s just what happens. And I do it SOLO . So low no one else can hear me.. and everyone says Amen 🙂

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