INDEPENDENCE DAY

I was thumbing through the Hymnal this morning and came upon the Star Spangled Banner. This poem was written by Francis Scott Key while he was held prisoner on a British prison ship in Baltimore Harbor in Sep of 1814. Once again the foundling nation found itself fighting for the very liberties expressed in the Declaration of Independence a mere 28 years before. He expressed the concerns of many Americans when he asked, “oh, say can you see, by the dawns early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilights’ last gleaming.” He was speaking of the American Flag. His question was “will the country exist tomorrow?”

I submit that this nation faces the same question today. No, we don’t face bombs bursting in air or the rockets red glare but we face something much more deadly. We face an enemy from with in. We face a Congress and White House that no longer responds to the will of the people. This enemy looks to whittle away the very liberties that our forefathers fought and died for. Will our country exist as designed under the Constitution if “we the people” allow this Congress and Administration to continue its course? Or will “the people” stand up and restore the true Constitutional Republic designed in the Constitution.

The upcoming elections of Nov 2010 and again in Nov of 2012 will tell. The answer rests with us. We must chose sides. What will you chose; liberty or tyranny? I chose liberty for I am not a subject, I am a citizen. To this end I will stand up and do what I can do to defeat the enemies of liberty and I encourage each of you to do the same.

Francis Scott Key’s answer comes in the little sung 3rd verse. “And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave, Over the land of the free and the home of the brave.” I believe this will be true today ,too, but I don’t believe it’s going to be an easy fight. Nevertheless, it’s a fight we must make.

I’m heading out now to watch the National Fireworks which go off over the Washington Memorial at about 9:15. I won’t be actually going into the District. We will join about 2000 people in the Pentagon South Parking lot. From here we can see everything without the traffic or hordes. I hope everyone had a great 4th of July. Lisa

Hi Lisa,

I've been in the parking lot you went to back in April. I wanted to see the memorial there but I couldn't figure out where to park. Everything seemed to be DOD parking only. We didn't park and get out. Back here in Connecticut we have a great fireworks display about a week after the 4th but it is more of a party than about the 4th of July. Whoever is doing the organizing doesn't put much emphasis of what the 4th is all about. As a society we need to remember how and why our country was founded. Today my wife and I were in a parade. I carried a Son's of Liberty flag and my wife carried a Washington's Cruisers flag. She likes that one because it says, "AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN" on it. I'm a descendant of a member of the Son's of Liberty of Newport, RI, so that flag has a special meaning to me. I think 99.9% (wild guess) of the people there had no idea what either flag was about. I didn't get any pictures but I included a link to the 4th verse of the Star Spangle Banner because I thought you would like it. http://www.youtube.com/user/coalnut#p/f/13/I0fQd858cRc

Jonathan

Hi Jonathan,

I'm not surprised you couldn't find any visitor's parking at the Pentagon. I'm sure it's disappointing for many tourists. For future reference - park on the other side of the freeway - there's a big mall and parking deck or even meter parking - and use the pedestrian tunnels under the freeway to get on to the Pentagon grounds. The 9/11 memorial is to your left as you approach the Pentagon. Fortunately, the parking restrictions aren't enforced on the 4th of July.

I agree but I'll go one further and say a lot of people don't know anything about the founding of the country much less the origins of the Flag or what it stands for. I noticed that the school patrols - 6 graders - did not know how to fold the flag after taking it down; they crumpled it. No other adult said anything so I did. It was kind of depressing.

http://www.mapsofworld.com/flags/united ... -flag.html
http://www.usflag.org/foldflag.html

The link you sent was great! We need to sing the whole song when we sing the Star Spangled Banner.

I didn't get to be in any parades this year; too many volunteers - for some reason there are a lot of new faces at the political rallies lately. The true election cycle now. I'll be working the phone banks in the effort to remove our current Representative come the NOV elections. This guy doesn't seem to know what's coming and so much the better.

I hope you have a great week. I'm looking forward to actually meeting you'll come August. Take care, Lisa

I agree we need to remember the past; a lot of people take for granted what we have here in America. I have voted every two years since I was 18, and that was back in 1981. No Vote =No Complaints. My father was 16 when he went to Normandy during WWII, D Day +8. Was injured serving in the army. Got patched up, marines were the only branch that would take him after some healing. Back to the front lines. Hurt again ,war ended, but followed him until death at 81, Oct. 2009. I cannot watch movies like "Saving Private Ryan", I've tried.

OUTSTANDING--your Father is a HERO--Yep,saving Private Ryan is definitely a tear jerker--Apocalypse Now was kinda over done,but,gave a real true to life emotional glimpse of the crazy SH--T that went on over in the Nam--same w/ Deer Hunter--over the edge--one of those--you had to be there--Toby covers it w/ He kept a flag out in the yard until the day that he died--that's my era. Thanx for the post my friend & welcome to the FORUM