Proud to be an American

Last night we went to see the United States Air Force Concert Band. They were amazing. They split the concert into two parts, with the first one being more traditional concert band music, and the second half including the concert singers featuring songs from the Wizard of Oz. The second half was cute and enjoyed by all. Toward the end of the concert they played a song called Liberty for All that included narration throughout the song. It was very moving, the narrator quoted great Americans like Thomas Jefferson and General Washington. I believe that this was even more moving and exciting to me because of the recent viewing of the John Adams series. And then of course they ended the concert with Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa.

Stars and Stripes Forever

by John Philip Sousa

Let martial note in triumph float
And liberty extend its mighty hand
A flag appears 'mid thunderous cheers,
The banner of the Western land.
The emblem of the brave and true
Its folds protect no tyrant crew;
The red and white and starry blue
Is freedom's shield and hope.
Other nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.

Hurrah for the flag of the free!
May it wave as our standard forever,
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day
When our fathers with mighty endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray
That by their might and by their right
It waves forever.

Let eagle shriek from lofty peak
The never-ending watchword of our land;
Let summer breeze waft through the trees
The echo of the chorus grand.
Sing out for liberty and light,
Sing out for freedom and the right.
Sing out for Union and its might,
O patriotic sons.
Other nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation,
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.

Hurrah for the flag of the free.
May it wave as our standard forever
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day
When our fathers with might endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray,
That by their might and by their right
It waves forever.


(Picture courtesy of the USAF site)