Recently when I was at Half Price Books with my kiddos I spotted this book, The Rocket's Red Glare: Celebrating the History of "The Star-Spangled Banner". With the recent uproar in the news about kneeling during the national anthem during sporting events I decided that it was time to make sure my young children understood the importance behind this great song. I for one am greatly disgusted by the lack of pride, honor, reverence, respect that players refuse to show by kneeling. They are also setting a horrible example to younger generations that look up to them and model after them. Okay, back to the book.
The book does an incredible job at going back to the early 1800's when Britain was at war with France. It talks about how Francis Scott Key never imagined that friendship, loyalty, or patriotism would place him on such a perilous mission. As Key watched Fort McHenry and the American Flag waving by the dawn's early light the thunder of the British canons awakened the sky. The sky lit up as Fort McHenry was attacked. The British fired over 1,500 round at the fort. Mr. Key and his comrades could still see the stars and stripes of the American flag. "O'er the ramparts we watch'd were so gallantly streaming." Frances Scott Keys poem would eventually be turned into a song.
Our national anthem is a song about freedom and honoring the bravery and sacrifice that our service men and women make to protect our country. It is also to pay tribute to those that have lost their lives for our freedom. It is America's song! It is our National Anthem!
Included at the end of the book is a CD which includes the National Anthem, America the Beautiful, and Heaven Was Needing a Hero.
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