Friday, July 5

Independence Day


This Independence Day was beautiful and full of: a big breakfast early in the morn with our ward, hot sun, small-town-Idaho parades, floating the river, and of course, the bombs bursting in air. But it was also a little bittersweet. I celebrate Independence day because I am grateful for the brave and valiant men (and their families) that signed the Declaration of Independence, which was an act of treason, to bring about the freedoms and blessings which I now enjoy while not even realizing what went in to making them possible. And now, in the day when I live, men and women everywhere are fighting to destroy the freedoms which the most courageous men God could find on the earth at the time, gave their lives for. Let's not forget it.

God Bless America. The Land of the free, and home of the brave.

PS. If you need a good cry,  read all the versus to our National Anthem, especially the last one.
I dare you to not get emotional.


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!

1 comment:

  1. Amen! I cry during verses of "my country, Tis of thee" too. Our day too, was lovely. Thank you for sharing your parade pictures. Small town ones are the best. I am grateful for a daughter who feels, acknowledges and records patriotic and godly gratitude. Hugs to you and handsome Kelly!

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