Happy Independence Day

THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER

"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.

O thus be it ever, when free men 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 the triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."


I thought singing The Star Spangled Banner would be a great way to start today's post, on the birthday of our country. I am so blessed to consider the United States of America my home. I am proud of my heritage as an American. The Star Spangled Banner was written by Francis Scott Key in 1814, while he was on a British ship in the Baltimore harbor, negotiating the release of a prisoner during the War of 1812. He was glad to see the flag of his country flying over Fort McHenry despite the British attack on the fort. It was declared the national anthem in 1931. We live very close to Baltimore, and I've visited Fort McHenry many times. Did you know that Francis Scott Key also wrote the hymn "Before You, Lord, We Bow"? I didn't know that until this past Sunday when we had a patriotic service at my church.

Today, we restrung our flag pole, replacing the worn out line and a broken flag clip, and raising a brand new embroidered flag. Here's some more flag trivia I found in the leaflet with our new flag:

• A flag expert is a "vexillologist."
• The US Flag, adopted on June 14, 1777, is the fourth oldest national flag in the world. Denmark's flag, adopted in 1219, is the oldest.
• When the flag is worn as a lapel pin, it should be worn on the left lapel - near the heart.

We are spending a quiet day at home. We picked our first tomatoes from our tomato plants to enjoy with our dinner tonight. Samantha is wearing her red, white and denim Friends2BMade outfit to celebrate the 4th. It has a sparkly heart on it - she loves our country, too.

Happy Birthday U.S.A.!!!

-Jen