For Veteran's Day: The Real American Anthem
"America the Beautiful" says far more about us than "Star Spangled Banner"
For Veteran’s Day (Saturday Matinee Music Video): “America the Beautiful”
Most people know the first verse of this enduring song, composed by Katharine Lee Bates and Samuel A. Ward--two remarkable people. To me, when you read all the lyrics, the lyrics provide a more apt description of our nation than "Star Spangled Banner," depicting a country where people are accountable, courageous, sacrificial, just, and merciful. Bates wrote at least 6 verses for this song. Over time the words have been altered and edited. For the sake of deliverance and brevity I used this 4-verse hybrid version:
O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain
For purple mountains majesty above the fruited plain
America America God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea
O beautiful for pilgrim feet whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat across the wilderness
America America God mend thine every flaw
Confirm thy soul in self control, thy liberty in law
O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife
Who more than self their country loved and mercy more than life
America America may God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness and every grain divine
O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam undimmed by human tears
America America God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea
#America #AmericatheBeautiful #katharineleebates #samuelaward #patriotism #johnnyjblair #MemorialDay #VeteransDay #FourthofJuly