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External Links: THE STAR SPANGELED BANNEROh, 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, n full glory reflected now shines on the stream: 'Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave O'er 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 wiped out their foul footstep's 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 forever shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! The Defense of Fort McHenry By Sir Francis Scott Key, 20 September 1814 AMERICA THE BEAUTIFULOh beautiful for spacious skies,For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majestiesAbove the fruited plain. America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea. Oh beautiful for pilgrim feet Whose stern impassioned stress. A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness. America! America! God mend think ev’ry flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law. Oh 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 ev'ry gain divine Oh 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. AMERICAMy country, ‘tis of thee,Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, Land of the Pilgrims’ pride, From every mountainside Let freedom ring. Our fathers’ God, to Thee Author of liberty To thee we sing. Long may our land be bright With freedom’s holy light; Protect us by Thy might, Great God, our King! Ballad of The Green BeretFighting soldiers from the sky,Fearless men who jump and die. Men who mean just what they say, The brave men of the Green Beret. Silver wings upon their chests, These are men, America's best, One hundred men we'll test today, But only three win The Green Beret. Trained to live off nature's land, Trained to combat, hand to hand. Men who fight by night and day, Courage take from The Green Beret. Silver wings upon their chests, These are men, America's best, One hundred men we'll test today, But only three win The Green Beret. Back at home a young wife waits, Her Green Beret has met his fate. He has died for those oppressed, Leaving her this last request. Put silver wings on my son's chest, Make him one of America's best, He'll be a man they'll test one day, Have him win The Green Beret. Battle Hymn of the RepublicMine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword: His truth is marching on. I have seen him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps; They have builded him an altar in the evening dews and damps; I can read his righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps: His day is marching on. I have read a fiery gospel, writ in burnished rows of steel: "As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal; Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel, Since God is marching on." He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; He is sifting out the hearts of men before his judgment-seat: O, be swift, my soul, to answer him! be jubilant, my feet! Our God is marching on. In the beauty of the Lilies Christ was born across the sea, With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me; As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free, While God is marching on. He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave, He is wisdom to the mighty, he is honor to the brave, So the world shall be his footstool, the soul of wrong his slave Our God is marching on! God Bless AmericaGod bless AmericaLand that I love Stand be-side her and guide her Thru the night with a light from above From the mountains to the prairies To the oceans white with foam God bless America My home sweet home God bless America My home sweet home The Caisson SongOver hill, over dale, we have hit the dusty trail,and our caissons go rolling along. In and out hear them shout "Counter march! And right a-bout," and the cais-sons go rolling along. Then it's "Hi, hi, hee!" in the field artillery. Shout out your numbers loud and strong (one two!) For where e'er we go, you will always know that the caissons go rolling along. that the caissons go rolling along. In the storm, in the night, action left or action right, see the caissons go rolling along. Limber front, limber rear, prepare to mount your canoneer, and the caissons go rolling along. Then it's "Hi, hi, hee!" in the field artillery. Shout out your numbers loud and strong (one two!) For where e'er we go, you will always know that the caissons go rolling along. that the caissons go rolling along. To the front, day and night, where the doughboys dig and fight, and those caissons go rolling along. Our barrage will be there, fired on the rocket's flare, as those caissons go rolling along. Then it's "Hi, hi, hee!" in the field artillery. Shout out your numbers loud and strong (one two!) For where e'er we go, you will always know that the caissons go rolling along. that the caissons go rolling along. THE MARINES' HYMNFrom the Halls of MontezumaTo the shores of Tripoli We fight our country’s battles In the air, on land and sea. First to fight for right and freedom And to keep our honor clean; We are proud to claim the title of United States Marine. Our flag's unfurled to every breeze from dawn to setting sun. We have fought in every clime and place, where we could take a gun. In the snow of far off northern lands and in sunny tropic scenes, You will find us always on the job, The United States Marines. Here's health to you and to our Corps which we are proud to serve. In many a strife we've fought for life and never lost our nerve. If the Army and the Navy ever look on heaven's scenes, they will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines. Air Force SongOff we go into the wild blue yonder,climb-ing high into the sun. Here they come, zoom-ing to meet our thunder, at 'em boys, give 'er the gun! Down we dive, spouting our flame from under, off with one helluva roar! We live in fame or go down in flame. Nothing'll stop the US Air Force! Minds of men fashioned a crate of thunder, sent it high into the blue. Hands of men blasted the world asunder; how they lived God only knew! Souls of men dreaming of skies to conquer gave us wings, ever to soar! With scouts before and bombers galore, Nothing'll stop the US Air Force! Off we go into the wild sky yonder, keep the wings level and true. If you'd live to be a gray-haired wonder keep the nose out of the blue! Flying men, guarding the nations border, we'll be there, followed by more! In echelon we carry one. Nothing'll stop the US Air Force! THE NAVY HYMN (ETERNAL FATHER)Eternal Father, strong to save,Whose arm hath bound the restless wave, Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep, Its own appointed limits keep. Oh hear us when we cry to Thee, For those in peril on the sea! Amen. Eternal Father, lend Thy grace To those with wings who fly thro' space, Thro wind and storm, thro' sun and rain, Oh bring them safely home again. Oh Father, hear a humble prayer, For those in peril in the air! Amen. Oh Trinity of love and pow'r, Our brethren shield in danger's hour, From rock and tempest, fire and foe, Protect them where so e'er they go. Thus evermore shall rise to Thee Glad hymns of praise from land and sea! Amen. You're A Grand Old FlagYou're A Grand Old Flag,You're a high flying flag, And forever, in peace, may you wave You're the emblem of the land I love, The home of the free and the brave. Ev'ry heart beats true 'neath the Red, White and Blue, Where there's never a boast or brag, But, should auld acquaintance be forgot, Keep your eye on the grand old flag. The Battle Cry of FreedomOh, we'll rally 'round the flag, boys,we'll rally once again, Shouting the battle cry of freedom. We will fally from the hillside, we'll gather from the plain, Shouting the battle cry of freedom. The Union forever, hurrah, boys, hurrah! Down with the traitor, up with the star. While we rally 'round the flag, boys, rally once again, Shouting the battle cry of freedom. We are springing to the call of our brothers gone before, Shouting the battle cry of freedom. And we'll fill the vacant ranks with a million freemen more, Shouting the battle cry of freedom. The Union forever, hurrah, boys, hurrah! Down with the traitor, up with the star. While we rally 'round the flag, boys, rally once again, Shouting the battle cry of freedom. We wil welcome to our numbers the loyal, true and brave, Shouting the battle cry of freedom. And although they may be poor not a man shall be a slave, Shouting the battle cry of freedom. The Union forever, hurrah, boys, hurrah! Down with the traitor, up with the star. While we rally 'round the flag, boys, rally once again, Shouting the battle cry of freedom. So we're springing to the call from the East and from the West, Shouting the battle cry of freedom. And we'll hurl the Rebel crew from the land we love the best, Shouting the battle cry of freedom. I Didn't Raise My Boy to be a SoldierTen million soldiers to the war have gonewho may never return again. Ten million mother's hearts must break for the ones who died in vain Head bowed down in sorrow in her lonely years, I heard a mother murmer through her tears: "I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier, I brought him up to be my pride and joy. Who dares to place a musket on his shoulder to shoot some other mother's darling boy?" Let nations arbitrate their future troubles. It's time to lay the sword and gun away. There'd be no war today if mothers all would say, "I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier" What victory can cheer a mother's heart when she looks at her blighted home? What victory can bring her back all she cared to call her own? Let each mother answer in the year to be, "Remember that my boy belongs to me!" "I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier, I brought him up to be my pride and joy. Who dares to place a musket on his shoulder to shoot some other mother's darling boy?" Let nations arbitrate their future troubles. It's time to lay the sword and gun away. There'd be no war today if mothers all would say, "I didn't raise my boy to be a soldier" The Unknown SoldierThere's a grave right near the White HouseWhere the Unknown Soldier lies And the flowers there are sprinkled With the tears of mothers' eyes. I stood there not so long ago With roses for the grave When suddenly I thought I heard A voice speak from the grave. "I am the Unknown Soldier" The spirit voice began, "And I think I've got a right To ask some questions, man to man. Are my buddies taken care of? Was their victory so sweet? Is that big reward you promised, Selling pencils in the street? Did they really win the freedom That they battled to achieve? Do you still respect the Croix de Guerre Above that empty sleeve? Does the gold star in the window Now mean anything at all? I wonder how my old gal feels When she hears the bugle call? And that baby that sang 'Hello Central, give me to No Man's Land;' Can they replace her daddy With a military band? I wonder if the profiteers Have satisfied their greed? I wonder if the soldier's mother Ever is in need? I wonder if the kings Who planned it all are satisfied? They played their game of checkers And eleven million died! Oh, I'd like to see their faces When they reach the Devil's door, But even down in Hell There is no torture such as war. I am the Unknown Solder And maybe I died in vain, But if I were alive and my country called I'd do it all over again." Hail to The ChiefHail to the Chief we have chosen for the nation,Hail to the Chief! We salute him, one and all. Hail to the Chief, as we pledge cooperation In proud fulfillment of a great, noble call. Yours is the aim to make this grand coun-try grander, This you will do, That's our strong, firm belief. Hail to the one we selected as commander, Hail to the President! Hail to the Chief! The House I Live InWhat is America to me?A name, a map, the flag I see, a certain word, "Democracy." What is America to me? The house I live in, A plot of earth, a street, The grocer and the butcher and the people that I meet, The children in the playground, the faces that I see; All races, all religions, that's America to me. The place I work in, the worker at my side The little town or city where my people lived and died The "howdy" and the handshake the air of feeling free the right to speak my mind out, that's America to me. The things I see about me the big things and the small The little corner newsstand and the house a mile tall; The wedding and the churchyard, the laughter and the tears, The dream that's been a growin' for a hundred fifty years The town I live in the street, the house, the room, The pavement of the city, or a garden all in bloom, The church, the school, the club house, The million lights I see, But especially the people, That's America to me. TAPSDay is done, gone the sun,From the lake, from the hills, from the sky; All is well, safely rest, God is nigh. Fading light, dims the sight, And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright. From afar, drawing nigh, falls the night. Thanks and praise, for our days, 'Neath the sun, 'neath the stars, neath the sky; As we go, this we know, God is nigh. Sun has set, shadows come, Time has fled, Scouts must go to their beds Always true to the promise that they made. While the light fades from sight, And the stars gleaming rays softly send, To thy hands we our souls, Lord, commend. This Is My CountryThis is my country! Land of my birth!This is my country! Grandest on earth! I pledge thee my allegiance, America, the bold, For this is my country to have and to hold. What diff'rence if I hail from North or South Or from the East or West? My heart is filled with love for all of these. I only know I swell with pride and deep within my breast I thrill to see Old Glory paint the breeze. With hand upon heart I thank the Lord For this my native land, For all I love is here within her gates. My sould is rooted deeply in the soil on which I stand, For these are mine own United States. This is my country! Land of my choice! This is my country! Hear my proud voice! I pledge thee my allegiance, America, the bold, For this is my country! 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