The United States of America


Flag

National Pledge

"I Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United Atates of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

National Anthem

The National Anthem of the United States of America is "The Star Spangled Banner". It was written in September, 1814 by Francis Scott Key, and set to the tune of the English song "To Anacreon in Heaven". It was officially recognized by congress as the national anthem in 1931.
O 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, through the perilous fight, 
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming! 
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there: 
O 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, now conceals, now discloses? 
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, 
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream: 
Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave 
Oer 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 homes and the war's desolation! 
Blest with victory and peace, may the Heaven-rescued land 
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. 
Then conquer we must, for 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!

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This page is maintained by Tom Strong <strong@dementia.org>. If you find an error or omission on these pages, I would appreciate an update or correction.

Page generated 2003-06-16 18:15:20 EDT