Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave . . .

I love " The Star-Spangled Banner." It represents everything upon which our country was founded and helps us remember our nation's rich history. The poem which later became our national anthem was written by Francis Scott Key and originally entitled, "Defense of Fort McHenry." Francis Scott Key was a well-known American lawyer, and when his friend William Beanes was taken prisoner by the British in Chesapeake Bay during the War of 1812, Key headed to Baltimore to try and rescue Dr. Beanes. On September 3, 1814, Key and John S. Skinner, an American prisoner exchange agent, left Baltimore for the British flagship the HMS Tonnant. On board the ship, they arranged for the release of Dr. Beanes, but since the Americans had overheard British plans to attack Baltimore, the men were to be detained until after the bombardment of the city. The Americans were transferred to another ship and witnessed the Battle of Baltimore from out in the harbor. Beginning at dusk on September 13, 1814, British ships fired on the fort for 25 consecutive hours. Four Americans were killed in the fort and 24 were wounded, but soldiers continued to return fire, and on the morning of September 15, British ships realized that they were not going to get past the fort. Francis Scott Key and the other Americans in the harbor went out on the deck of the ship and saw that, despite the 25-hour bombardment, the American flag at Fort McHenry was still waving. Thus, the inspiration for "Defense of Fort McHenry," which later became "The Star-Spangled Banner."

One of the neatest places I have ever visited was Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor. I went there with my buddy Angie back in January. Walking through the fort and looking out over the harbor greatly increased my appreciation for the meaning and origin of our national anthem. We don't often hear the words to the other verses of the song, but they too are a wonderful expression of what America stands for:

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 through 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 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!

O! 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!

It is interesting that during the Civil War, Francis Scott Key's grandson Francis Key Howard, was imprisoned at Fort McHenry for publishing pro-South sentiments in his Baltimore newspaper. He talked about how ironic it was that he was a prisoner in the very spot that had inspired his grandfather's famous poem about America and freedom. During the Civil War, "The Star-Spangled Banner" was claimed as an anthem for both the North and South. However, Northern editions of the song featured an additional verse penned by Oliver Wendell Holmes in 1861:

When our land is illumined with liberty's smile,

If a foe from within strikes a blow at her glory,

Down, down with the traitor that tries to defile

The flag of the stars, and the page of her story!

By the millions unchained, who their birthright have gained

We will keep her bright blazon forever unstained;

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave,

While the land of the free is the home of the brave.

Truly, "The Star-Spangled Banner" has played an important role in America's history, and its words pronounce everything that makes our country unique. It was the perfect choice for the national anthem.

In the recent past, there have been some political grumblings about Barack Obama's ideas about patriotism--or the lack thereof. This picture, taken at a campaign ralley in Iowa while the national anthem was being played, is quite scary. Notice Barack's hands clasped together in front of him. Heck, even Hillary knows that you're supposed to put your hand over your heart during the national anthem! The U. S. Code states:

TITLE 36 > Subtitle I > Part A > CHAPTER 3

§ 301. National anthem

(a) Designation.— The composition consisting of the words and music known as the Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem.

(b) Conduct During Playing.— During a rendition of the national anthem—

(1) when the flag is displayed—

(A) all present except those in uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart;

(B) men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold the headdress at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart; and

(C) individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note; and

(2) when the flag is not displayed, all present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed.

Hmmmmm. I have also heard it said that Obama feels that "The Star-Spangled Banner" is too violent to be the national anthem. He thinks that the song indicates that we like to be a warring nation. No, it just means that there have been wars in the past--and the present--which have been and are a necessity to maintain the freedoms that we as Americans enjoy. Our country has and is trying to extend those freedoms to oppressed nations--which is a noble cause.

Anyway, those are my political and historical thoughts for the day. I am out at Camp Floyd today for work. For the most part it should be a pretty quiet day, as Mondays usually are, but I am not looking forward to the task I have been given of mopping the bathroom floors this afternoon. James left me a note requesting that I perform said task. Oh well, at least I don't need to clean the toilets! Yesterday at church the primary kids were very funny and wild (mostly wild). One of them said to me, "I'm glad you're my teacher because you alawys look so pretty." Awww, that was nice. But a few minutes later Tanner, the same child who uttered that affectionate phrase, was wreaking havoc throughout the primary room. Nauvoo, who was in somewhat of a bad mood, decided to lie down on the floor, Ashley was licking her feet, Tanner was trying to eat my watch, and Alex was crying because he wanted his dad. Needless to say, when I got home from church I was pooped!