At church the sermon was all based on the true history of the USA and how the Founding Fathers got their ideas for the new country from the Bible.

We also sang the last verse of the Star Spangled Banner, which shows that America was founded as a Christian nation:

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!

Here is a Tea Party singing this last verse:

The link above was played in church at the end of the sermon.
Actually that Marine, bless his heart, is actually singing verse 4.

Technorati Tags: bombs bursting in air, bright stars, christian nation, desolation, dread silence reposes, foe, founding fathers, gleam, gloom, haughty host, havoc, heav, hireling, history of the usa, perilous fight, proof through the night, ramparts, star spangled banner, triumph doth wave, true history

Do most people even know there are actually 4 verses in the Star Spangled Banner?
Are the last 3 verses not sung because it would be too long, and people would rather get to watch the sports game, or is it because God is mentioned in them?
What do you think?

Here are all the words to

The Star Spangled Banner

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, through 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 fully 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.

Technorati Tags: bombs bursting in air, bright stars, desolation, dread silence reposes, foe, footsteps, gleam, gloom, haughty host, havoc, heav, hireling, perilous fight, proof through the night, ramparts, red glare, sports game, star spangled banner, triumph doth wave, words to the star spangled banner

http://www.national-anthems.net/US
"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 rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through 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 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 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!
Flag draped from the roof of the Pentagon

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! "
@Brian you are wrong. The national anthem was made in 1814 and didnt become the official national anthem till 1931

http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/spangle.htm

Technorati Tags: bombs bursting in air, bright stars, desolation, dread silence reposes, foe, gleam, gloom, haughty host, havoc, heav, hireling, national anthem, national anthems, perilous fight, proof through the night, ramparts, rockets red glare, spangle, star spangled banner, triumph doth wave

When I was in the first and second grade (early 70’s) my teacher taught us many patriotic songs and we sung them at the top of our lungs every day. After the Pledge of Allegiance, we would almost always sing “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee”. We also sung the You’re a Grand Old Flag, God Bless America, America the Beautiful and of course the National Anthem, the Star Spangled Banner which the entire school would sing at any auditorium event.
Do kids still do this? These songs instilled in me great pride of who I am and where I come from. I would gladly die to protect the ideals of our Country and I expect the same from every other
American. I think it’s a shame these great songs are considered hate speech by some who have this puritan view of separation of Church and State and take it to the extreme.

Young people today while I think very highly of them in most respects seem to have a more far more cynical view (overly so I would argue) of our country and don’t seem very grateful for the sacrifices our forefathers made on our behalf.

What are public schools doing to these kids? Are the PC Police killing idealism of our young Americans?

Technorati Tags: america america, country tis, cynical view, entire school, forefathers, god bless america, grand old flag, great songs, hate speech, lungs, national anthem, patriotic songs, pc police, pledge of allegiance, respects, sacrifices, separation of church and state, shame, star spangled banner, young americans

Okay so I’m Australian, and decided to look up the lyrics for the Star Spangled Banner when I couldn’t make out what they were singing in a movie (The Stand if you must know).

The lyrics I found (on Wikipedia) were:

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.
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 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!

And a fifth verse that was added for a while "in indignation over the start of the civil war":

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.

Now to me it was a little I dunno, odd that there was a lot of imagery about war and violence; until I looked a little into the history of the song and it made a lot more sense. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Spangled_Banner if you don’t know about it.

So what I’m asking is, do you think that in the near future it would be good to, not completely lose the historical allusions in that song, but to maybe modify it to reflect contemporary American culture? Even if just some of the words and the scale was updated so that your average citizen could remember and sing more than the first couple of lines?

For comparison, this is the national anthem we as Australians officially accepted in 1984 after many years of contests and voting and God Save the Queen. I’m not saying it’s any better or worse, just that this is what we chose, and it has been modified somewhat.

ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature’s gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history’s page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair.

In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We’ll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who’ve come across the seas
We’ve boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To Advance Australia Fair.

In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

From http://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/nat_anthem.html

Which may need to be changed soon if our government decides to restrict immigration into this vast country even more, to "we’ve boundless plains we won’t share". Just saying.
No, I understand the history of the song and everything, I was just wondering whether it should be modified to reflect the 200 years of history since then, or to make it so that more people know the words and understand it. It’s possible to make it more modern and relevant whilst keeping the cultural heritage.

By the way, if Australia changed its national anthem again, this is the song I’d vote for: http://alldownunder.com/oz-u/songs/i-am-australian-17.htm

Technorati Tags: bombs bursting in air, bright stars, desolation, dread silence reposes, foe, footsteps, gleam, gloom, haughty host, havoc, heav, hireling, lyrics for the star spangled banner, perilous fight, proof through the night, ramparts, rockets red glare, star spangled banner, triumph doth wave, wikipedia

Google has been little help, or I am not searching for the right thing.

I am doing a research paper on the American Flag being a symbol for our culture. I have included stories of famous American Flag references, but I am looking for something in pop culture such as…

Famous song about American Flag(not the Star Spangled Banner, I have it…)
Famous picture or art
Famous clothing or something like that
Famous anything that has to do with the American Flag! That I can at least write five sentences on.

Please and thank you, I appreciate it.

Technorati Tags: american flag, google, pop culture, research paper, sentences, star spangled banner

1.Macon’s Bill Number Two reopened trade with both Britain and France, but it stated that if either nation agreed to drop its restrictions on trade, the United States would

A.stop importing goods from the other nation.
B.declare war on the other nation.
C.stop seizing that nation’s ships.
D.support that nation’s war effort by shipping war supplies.
2.Francis Scott Key wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner” after

A.the burning of the White House.
B.the Treaty of Ghent.
C.the bombardment of Fort McHenry.
D.the Battle of New Orleans.
3.During the War of 1812, ____ secretly arranged for the construction of a fleet on the coast of Lake Erie in Ohio.

A.William Hull
B.Andrew Jackson
C.James Madison
D.Oliver Perry
4.What was one of the effects of the War of 1812?

A.cessation of American impressment
B.westward expansion of the United States
C.weakening of America’s reputation overseas
D.restoration of prewar boundaries
5.“And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.”
—from “The Star Spangled Banner” by Francis Scott Key

What did the glare from rockets and bombs allow Key to see?

A.the continued presence of American troops
B.a British victory as they took Fort McHenry
C.the troops he commanded in the battle
D.the city of Washington, D.C., burning
6.Which of the following was not an event that occurred before the War of 1812?

A.conflict with Native American in the American west
B.impressments of American sailors by the British
C.the Hartford Convention
D.British sailors stopping American ships in route to France
7.Match the correct item to its description.
1.made Andrew Jackson a national hero
2.ended the War of 1812
3.enabled American troops to recover Detroit
4.the British set fire to both the White House and the Capitol

A.Treaty of Ghent
B.Raid on Washington, D.C.
C.Battle on Lake Erie
D.Battle of New Orleans

Technorati Tags: american sailors, american ships, battle of new orleans, british c, british sailors, british victory, francis scott key, hartford convention, impressment, impressments, national hero, oliver perry, proof through the night, rockets red glare, star spangled banner, star spangled banner by francis scott, treaty of ghent, war supplies, westward expansion, william hull

1.
Macon’s Bill Number Two reopened trade with both Britain and France, but it stated that if either nation agreed to drop its restrictions on trade, the United States would
A) stop importing goods from the other nation.
B) declare war on the other nation.
C) stop seizing that nation’s ships.
D) support that nation’s war effort by shipping war supplies.
2.
Francis Scott Key wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner” after
A) the burning of the White House.
B) the Treaty of Ghent.
C) the bombardment of Fort McHenry.
D) the Battle of New Orleans.
3.
During the War of 1812, ____ secretly arranged for the construction of a fleet on the coast of Lake Erie in Ohio.
A) William Hull
B) Andrew Jackson
C) James Madison
D) Oliver Perry
4.
What was one of the effects of the War of 1812?
A) cessation of American impressment
B) westward expansion of the United States
C) weakening of America’s reputation overseas
D) restoration of prewar boundaries
5.
“And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.”
—from “The Star Spangled Banner” by Francis Scott Key

What did the glare from rockets and bombs allow Key to see?
A) the continued presence of American troops
B) a British victory as they took Fort McHenry
C) the troops he commanded in the battle
D) the city of Washington, D.C., burning
6.
Which of the following was not an event that occurred before the War of 1812?
A) conflict with Native American in the American west
B) impressments of American sailors by the British
C) the Hartford Convention
D) British sailors stopping American ships in route to France
7.

Match the correct item to its description.
A. made Andrew Jackson a national hero
B. ended the War of 1812
C. enabled American troops to recover Detroit
D. the British set fire to both the White House and the Capitol

Treaty of Ghent
Raid on Washington, D.C.
Battle on Lake Erie
Battle of New Orleans

Technorati Tags: american sailors, american ships, battle of new orleans, british c, british sailors, british victory, francis scott key, hartford convention, impressment, impressments, national hero, oliver perry, proof through the night, rockets red glare, star spangled banner, star spangled banner by francis scott, treaty of ghent, war supplies, westward expansion, william hull

i need to explain what all 4 verses mean in paragraph form help please its due tomorrow

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!

Technorati Tags: bombs bursting in air, bright stars, desolation, dread silence reposes, due tomorrow, foe, footsteps, gleam, gloom, haughty host, havoc, heav, hireling, perilous fight, proof through the night, quot, ramparts, red glare, star spangled banner, triumph doth wave

I have to write at least a paragraph for each of these please help!!

On September 6, 1901, an assassin’s bullet wounded President William McKinley. He died later that month. Including Mckinley, eight American Presidents have died in office. Name the other seven. Who becomes president when a president dies? Do you think this is a good policy? Why or Why not?

In September of 1903, the state of Massachusetts issued the first automobile license plates. All the other states soon began to use license plates. What it the purpose of a license plate?

On September 11, 1777, General George Washington was outsmarted by British General William Howe at the Battle of Brandywine in Pennsylvania. Howe distracted Washington with half of his army while the other half snuck around behind him. Tell about a time when someone outsmarted you. (3 paragraphs)

On September 14, 1814, a Maryland lawyer named Francis Scott Key saw the bombing of Fort McHenry at Valtimore and wrote the first stanza of a poem on an envelope. He later finished the poem and called it "The Defense of Fort McHenry". The poem’s title was later changed to "The Star Spangled Banner" Write you own poem about the flag. (3 stanzas)

Some important birthdays in the month of september include Queen Liluokalini, Marcus Whitman, Jane Addams, James Fennimore Cooper, and George Gershwin. Choose one of these people and explain why he or she is important in American History.(2 Paragraphs)

Technorati Tags: american history 2, american presidents, automobile license plates, battle of brandywine, first automobile, fort mchenry, francis scott key, general william howe, george gershwin, james fennimore cooper, jane addams, license plate, marcus whitman, maryland lawyer, president william mckinley, september 11 1777, stanza of a poem, star spangled banner, state of massachusetts, william mckinley