Francis Scott Key - The Origin of The Star Spangled Banner
Two years ago I had the priviledge of viewing the original Star Spangled Banner that was on display in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. It was truly a privilege for me and a very emotionally moving and touching experience. I have always loved and appreciated the flag that is the national symbol of the country that I love. My father served in the U.S. Air Force and later the U.S.Air Force Reserves, and I think that because of that I have always felt a strong sense of patriotism for the United States of America and especially it's symbol of the stars and stripes. I was usually the one who made sure that the flag was displayed on the flag pole that was attached just outside of the front door of my house where I grew up. I just seemed to have an innate appreciation for this symbol and for the meaning behind it.
There have been several times in my life when the sight of this flag has moved me to the point of tears. One of those times was on the morning of September 11, 2001. As I watched the television coverage of the horrible events of that morning, the fact that the flag was being held aloft by some courageous and heroic firefighters gave me great peace and comfort. The flag still waved, in spite of the awful attacks that had been assaulted on my home soil. The events of that day also had a large impact on my son. He drew a picture of the twin towers with the American flag flying over head that I have kept in his scrapbook.
My son decided that as part of his Eagle Project with The Boy Scouts of America he would install a flagpole in the front of the church building where we met. Part of his Eagle Ceremony was to raise the American flag for the first time on that pole. This also took place on September 11, a few years after the original attack. It was a very moving and emotional experience for me as a stood watching these young men in uniform carefully attach the flag to the pole and raise it above our heads. We then recited The Pledge of Allegiance.
As I mentioned earlier, my father served in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Air Force Reserves. When he died we were asked if we would like a military ceremony to accompany his burial, to which we replied that we definately would. As I sat in the cemetary and the Air Force cadets folded (and refolded for precision) the United States Flag that had been draped on the top of my father's casket and handed it to my older sister, I got a huge lump in my throat. When the buglar started playing Taps in the distance and we heard the 21 gun salute, I could no longer control my emotionals and they spilled out as tears the poured down my cheeks. To this day I cannot hear Taps without crying.
Today in church we had the privilege of singing The Star Spangled Banner as a closing song. Everyone stood as a sign of respect. As I read the words to the song there was one verse that really struck me. It is in the third verse, a verse that is very often not sung, and it goes like this:
"Oh, thus be it ever, when free men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with vic'tr'y 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 thus 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!"
These are important words to remember, especially in this day and time when so few individuals remember God, let alone praise Him for preserving our nation and allowing us to live in peace in this country! Freedom isn't free! So, on this July 4th, it is good to remember those who have both served and died to keep us free; and to give credit to Him in whom "is our trust", for our "vic'tr'y and peace". It reminds me of another patriotic hero from history who showed his patriotism to his country, and to his God, with a flag....Captain Moroni, whose story is found in The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.
Alma 40:11-13
11 And now it came to pass that when Moroni, who was the chief commander of the armies of the Nephites, had heard of these dissensions, he was angry with Amalickiah.
12 And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.
13 And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land—
Alma 41:18-22
18 And he said: Surely God shall not suffer that we, who are despised because we take upon us the name of Christ, shall be trodden down and destroyed, until we bring it upon us by our own transgressions.
19 And when Moroni had said these words, he went forth among the people, waving the rent part of his garment in the air, that all might see the writing which he had written upon the rent part, and crying with a loud voice, saying:
20 Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them.
21 And it came to pass that when Moroni had proclaimed these words, behold, the people came running together with their armor girded about their loins, rending their garments in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God; or, in other words, if they should transgress the commandments of God, or fall into transgression, and be ashamed to take upon them the name of Christ, the Lord should rend them even as they had rent their garments.
22 Now this was the covenant which they made, and they cast their garments at the feet of Moroni, saying: We covenant with our God, that we shall be destroyed, even as our brethren in the land northward, if we shall fall into transgression; yea, he may cast us at the feet of our enemies, even as we have cast our garments at thy feet to be trodden under foot, if we shall fall into transgression.
and, finally
Alma 60:3636 Behold, I am Moroni, your chief captain. I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country. And thus I close mine epistle.
Now that is a true patriot!
The Star Spangled Banner (Whitney Houston)
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