Saturday, July 4, 2015

The Star Spangled Banner

The Star Spangled Banner and America's Christian Heritage



Back in February, I posted a video of a US soldier rocking the Star-Spangled Banner above the Muslim Call to Prayer and it was widely applauded. In 2013, Madison Rising broke on the scene with their version of the national anthem that went viral. However, what seems to be missing in most every rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner is the reference to America's spiritual heritage and to the One who established the land of the free and the home of the brave. Enter former Kansas singer, turned Christian singer/producer John Elefante.


Elephante recently sang the first verse of the national anthem and included various pictures that tie to both our history and our present with regards to our heritage. According to Elefante, he wanted to emphasize the part Christianity has played in the history of our country.



The Bible, prayer (even among soldiers and children in school), and the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ are prominently displayed throughout the video. Additionally, one can see the celebrations that often accompany our nation's celebration of freedom, something sadly many are unaware of.

Last year marked the 200th anniversary of the Star-Spangled Banner and was written by Francis Scott Key following the battle of Fort McHenry. By dawn's morning light, Key saw that the American flag was, indeed, "still there."

However, while many Americans are aware of the first verse of the national anthem, sadly, many are not aware of the remaining verses, which clearly point to our Christian heritage.

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?


god-save-america1

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!



1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Patrick Daniel "Pat" Tillman (November 6, 1976 – April 22, 2004) - seen at the 1:11 mark in this video kneeling to pray before a football game - was an American football player who left his professional career and enlisted in the United States Army in June 2002 in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. His service in Iraq and Afghanistan, and subsequent death, were the subject of much media attention. Tillman joined the Army Rangers and served several tours in combat before he died in the mountains of Afghanistan. At first, the Army reported that Tillman had been killed by enemy fire. Controversy ensued when a month later, on May 28, 2004, the Pentagon notified the Tillman family that he had died as a result of a friendly fire incident; the family and other critics allege that the Department of Defense delayed the disclosure for weeks after Tillman's memorial service out of a desire to protect the image of the U.S. armed forces. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Tillman TRUTH - the OTHER side of the story: According to 'intel' in confidence from close associates of Tillman, Tillman had issues with orders to commit crimes against humanity that he could not agree with nor could or would he follow orders to do so. Tillman was killed as ordered by military superiors - he was 'trouble' for them - he just did not and would not follow orders to kill in cold blood, nor support drug trafficking, etc.