Happy 4th of July

[markfnc]

God Bless the USA - Lee Greenwood
http://youtube.com/watch?v=RssIN3ustUw

John Wayne - America, why I love her.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0gbbE_wAkZQ

One of the best versions of the National Anthem (Whitney Houston)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=cYhio8EXdWA

Ray Charles - America the beautiful
http://youtube.com/watch?v=N7Wt4XlXUrc

[fallsrider]

That's some very good, and very appropriate, music!

BTW, the Whitney Houston link isn't working.

[Dray]

That's beautiful man.  National anthem is my favorite song.  Brings tears to my eyes.  I was in the first Gulf War when she sang that.

Proud to be one of the brave.  Love this country.

[AustinBoston]

The battle for Baltimore in the War of 1812 was the first real sign - it was just a glimmer, really - that this nation would some day become a superpower.

It took more than a century, and some real sacrifice by a lot of people to get there, but even in 1812, that flag, still flying after about 24 hours of continuous British Naval bombardment, and after attack by British land forces, was still there, offering the hint: "this nation will one day be far more than anyone can yet imagine."

BTW, as the British gave up and sailed away, that flag was lowered...and replaced with one more than ten times it's size.

Very few people today even know that the Star Spangled Banner has four verses, since only the first is sung at most events.  Many people have heard the last verse in church, but the second and third are all but lost on most people.  Here is the full text:

[INDENT]O say, can you see, by the dawn

[tlhdoc]

Happy Independence Day to everyone!