A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....03-14-03...American Patriotic Music

DaisyScarlett, Aquamarine, Billie | Layout & Presentation by Daisyscarlett; Music Selections by Aquamarine

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest.....
......Every Day

FR is a Treasure Trove of talented, compassionate, patriotic, wonderful people who gather every day to discuss the latest news and issues; salute and support our military and our leaders;  tell a few jokes;  learn a new word;  write poetry;  pray for those in need;  and congratulate those who are deserving. Thank you, Jim Robinson, for giving us the vehicle in which we can express ourselves.

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   I can remember lurking when there were only a few regulars who posted, and now there are over 60,000 who have registered for posting privileges. The forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest November 11, 2001

So many people have written me since my original Veteran's Day Tribute, asking how they, or a loved one, could be included in that tribute. Since I can no longer add the photos to the body of the thread, I've been including them in additional posts as I received enough to make another collage.

Still that doesn't seem to be enough. I think there's never been a better nor more appropriate time to keep the faces of our own Veterans and Active Military in front of FReepers--every day! That's why I wanted to do yet another Daily Thread .....ABOUT FReepers .....and FOR FReepers. But not only about our Military FReepers; for all FReepers! Wouldn't it be nice to get to know a few of the other FReepers as well? That's why, in addition to seeing FR's Finest Military Personnel every day, I thought it might be fun to feature a different FReeper (or FReepers) each day. If you would like to be pictured, or know someone who would, please FReepmail me and we'll turn the spotlight - on YOU - for the day!

And do let me know if you'd like your picture added to the groups of Veterans/Active Military below. I will keep this page updated, and continue to add them to the comment section of the original Veteran's Day thread as well.

<

TOP:  g'nad, AgThorn's son Justin, SLB, AgThorn's son Brett.
MIDDLE:  fish70, razorback-bert, CheneyChick,Leroy S Mort, Mark17.
BOTTOM:  Terry's Take, Taxman, DinkyDau.

TOP:  ValerieUSA's son Grant, SK1Thurman, kd5cts, RangerVetNam,
dansangel and .45man's son-in-law Tony
BOTTOM:  rangerX, Old China Hand, Trish, Howlin's dad, Mustang

TOP: ohioWfan's son, MamaBear's father-in-law, MamaBear's dad, ladtx
MIDDLE:  The Mayor's niece, M.Kehoe, Beach_Babe's son-in-law
BOTTOM:  deadhead's dad, HiJinx, Severa's hubby, viligantcitizen's granddad.

TOP:  spectr17, RightOnline, SERE_Doc, Tet68.
MIDDLE:  FutureSnakeEater, RightOnline's wife, CIApilot, Clamper1797
BOTTOM:  usmcobra, onedoug, DiverDave, Joe6-pack

We now have eleven groups of veterans/active military; we will post each group of three or four twice a week, with thumbnail/links of the remaining seven or eight groups on each thread. Click on any of the thumbnails below to see the group full-size.

         

GROUP 1A: TOP: Logos, SwedeGirl's hubby, Neil E Wright, FallGuy, 1John, Sneakypete MIDDLE:  T'wit, COB1, LadyX, Dick Bachert, 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub BOTTOM:  YankeeinSC, Delta21, JoeSixPack1

GROUP 2A: TOP:  Bosniajmc, AFVetGal, Archy, A Navy Vet MIDDLE:  4TheFlag, Aeronaut, 68Grunt, Xinga BOTTOM:  Codger, AAABest, Clinton's A Liar, Duke809, dcwusmc

GROUP 3A: TOP:  mc5cents, Norb2569, LBGA's son, VanJenerette MIDDLE:  Jim Robinson, KJenerette, davidosborne, KG9Kid BOTTOM:  gwmoore, Equality7-2521, SAMWolf

GROUP 4A: TOP:  porgygirl, Phil V., MudPuppy, NorCoGOP MIDDLE:  RaceBannon, OneidaM, rdb3, jwTexian BOTTOM:  USMC Vet, TheMayor, Vineyard, rhododogma

      

GROUP 9A: TOP: Q6-God, Scan59, Mama Bear and JKPhoto's son, ofMagog. MIDDLE:  Big'ol_freeper, JustAmy's great uncle, Prodigal Son. BOTTOM:  JustAmy's husband, JustAmy's brother-in-law, JustAmy's brother.

GROUP 10A: TOP: dakine's wife, MeeknMing's dad, Auntbee's nephew, MilitiaMan7, AlasBabylon. BOTTOM:  Joe Brower, Temple Owl, Temple Owl's wife, dutchess' dad, Aomagrat.

GROUP 11A: TOP: ladtx #2 son; DiverDave's twin Don; petuniasevan and husband poorman; Mustard; ladtx #1 son. BOTTOM: AlamoGirl's brother Floyd; AG's dad; AG's brother Jim (inset); WVNan's husband; ladtx' Aunt Eva.

                     

Get ready to stand up and salute

to some great

American patriotic songs!!!

People throughout history have expressed their patriotism through song. During times of national tragedy, we open our hearts and lift up our voices in faith, courage, and devotion to our country. Music is recognized as an vital part of our country's strength and inspiration. Music often fills the void when words fail.

Americaís first patriotic song was composed during the American Revolution around 1768. Since that time, many American patriotic songs have been produced. Some remain very famous, some were only locally famous, and some were once very famous but are now forgotten. In times of trouble these are the songs America wants and needs. They've taken us through wars before and they'll help us again!

Today, we (Aquamarine and daisyscarlett) are proud to feature American Patriotic Music. We have selected some patriotic music from the past and from the present and will discuss their creation and provide some historical tidbits, along with appropriate graphics and links to the music.

These songs are presented in no particular order, neither by category, popularity or time period. Aquamarine will be posting additional patriotic music throughout the day on the thread itself. We invite you all to join in and post any patriotic wavs or midis as the thread progresses.

(click on graphic)

"The Star Spangled Banner"

The National Anthem of the United States is probably one of the most recognized and well known anthems in the world. It is loved by Americans for its beauty but hated by singers for it's difficult leaps and range. Still, there is little doubt that this is one of the most inspiring pieces of music ever written.

The words to the Star Spangled Banner were written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key, a Washington lawyer. Key had arranged the release from prison of a friend during a truce and was aboard a ship on the night of September 13. During this night there was a bombardment of Fort McHenry at Baltimore and Key watched it from the ship. The bombardment stopped and supposedly Key paced the deck the remainder of the night wondering if "our flag was still there." When dawn came and he saw that the flag was indeed still there, he wrote a poem about the "The Star-Spangled Banner".

(click on graphic)

"God Bless America"

"God Bless America" is described by the Library of Congress as America's unofficial national anthem. The original version was written by Irving Berlin during the summer of 1918, but he decided it was too solemn for the revue he was working on at the time. It was laid aside until the fall of 1938 when Berlin decided to rework it as a ìpeaceî song. Kate Smith sang the revised version on her radio show for Armistice Day, 1938, and the song was an instant hit. Not long afterwards, Berlin established the God Bless America Fund, which assigned all royalties to the Boy and Girl Scouts of America.

(click on graphic)

"Stars and Stripes Forever March"

On most any 4th of July - Independence Day! - Americans can hear, at parades, picnics, on televison, radio, -everywhere! - March music being played. For most Americans the very sound of a March will bring a thrill of Patriotism to their hearts. Even the most jaded politically finds a certain pulse-pounding excitement begin when the first strains fill the air.

The most popular Marches, and the most recognizable for Americans, are those composed by John Phillip Sousa - The March King. He composed ìStars and Stripes Foreverî on Christmas Day in 1896. The March was an immediate success and Sousa's Band played it at almost every concert until his death over 25 years later. In fact, it was the last song directd by him before his death. John Phillip Sousa also wrote "Semper Fidelis," which later was adopted as the official march of the Marine Corps.

(click on graphic)

"America, the Beautiful"

Katharine Lee Bates was a professor of English at a Boston college (Wellesley) College. She made a train trip from Massachusetts to Colorado in 1893, when she was thirty-three years old. The train stopped at Niagara Falls and in Chicago, where she saw the "alabaster" buildings of the 1893 Worldís Fair. It passed through Kansas on the Fourth of July where she saw "amber waves of grain."

On arriving in Colorado Springs, she saw many other things that impressed her, like spectacular rock formations and Pikeís Peak. From the top of Pikeís Peak, she could see many miles of plains on one side and many miles of the Rocky Mountains on the other side.

After climbing down from Pikes Peak, Katharine Lee Bates began writing a poem about all of the sights she had seen on her trip. That poem became "America, the Beautiful." The melody we know today comes from a hymn called "Materna," written by Samuel Augustus Ward in 1882. The words and music were first published together in 1910.

(click on graphic)

"America" (My Country 'Tis of Thee)

Samuel Francis Smith wrote the words for "America" in 1832. He was translating some songs from German into English for an organist friend. One of the songs, a German patriotic song called "God Bless Our Native Land," caught Smithís interest. He liked the melody, and he thought that the United States needed a patriotic song like that, so he wrote the words to the song we know as "America."

The melody Smith used for his words is a very popular one. The same melody is also used for the British anthem, "God Save the Queen (King)." Smithís song was published on the Fourth of July, 1831. It was first sung in Boston, Massachusetts. Soon the song that begins "My country ëtis of thee . . ." was popular all over the United States.

(click on graphic)

"God Bless The USA"

"God Bless The USA" was composed by Lee Greenwood in 1985 and the Country Music Assocation (CMA) awarded him Song of the Year honors for penning both the words and music.

After the Gulf War in 1991, Lee Greenwood was one of the most in-demand performers. Because of his support for the military and veterans during that time, Lee would often play two and sometimes three shows per day, traveling to and from in private jets. His celebrity tours with the United Services Organization (USO) are one of the many high-profile charity organizations to which this humanitarian donates his time.

Since the tragedies of September 11, Lee Greenwood has seen his signature hit take on yet another life. Airplay has increased ten fold, skyrocketing "God Bless The U.S.A." back into the top 20 of the Billboard country airplay chart, and sending Lee's 1992 album "American Patriot" to the top of the sales charts. The album was certified gold in October 2001 & platinum in December 2001.

Lee Greenwood's performances have been as in-demand as his CDs. He has been called upon to perform at numerous events and on national television programs. He maintains a rigorous touring schedule, including visits to military bases and performances at government functions, including the Veteran's Day ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Thank you for joining us today. We sincerely hope that the American Patriotic Music we have selected has uplifted your spirits.

We welcome "requests" for future editions of American Patriotic Music. We hope to make this a recurring feature thread on the Finest until all of our service men and women are "home" and the War on Terror is over.
............daisyscarlett and Aquamarine

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 03-10-03 Dog Gone 03-11-03 AuntB 03-12-03 azGOPgal 03-13-03 JohnHuang2 Essay

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[Billie]

[Billie]

Good morning, FReeper FRiends. Daisy is soaking up the sun in Hawaii this week and next, but before she left, she and Aquamarine created another of their beautiful Music threads - this time Patriotic Music - and asked if I would post it this week.

You won't want to miss these uplifting graphics and music at a time when we are all showing our support for our President, our leaders, our military....our wonderful USA!

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Billie!

[Billie]

Good morning, Aeronaut. I'm so very late getting today's thread up, and it's so PRETTY! Their Christmas Music thread was wonderful, and this one is, too!

[Aquamarine]

Good Morning All!

TEXOKIE wrote this beautiful prayer the other day and has given me permission to post it here today.

ON THE BRINK

Our Father in Heaven,

We find ourselves on the brink of war. It sounds like a cliche, for we have been hearing that phrase bandied about like so much candy in our press. But as we look at what that phrase means, we give pause. What are they saying to us? A brink is the upper edge of a steep or vertical declivity. The assumption of course is that if we go forward, there is absolutely no turning back; we will fall. Gravity will take over, and natural laws being what they are, we, the falling object, will go splat when we meet the bottom of the cliff and decelerate abruptly.

This certainly does make it seem wise to quickly do an about face! As every mother knows, it is a very unwise thing to be playing at the edge of a cliff or drop-off! What in the world could our President be thinking??

Our Father, we thank you for the strength and wisdom which you have granted this President. We are grateful for the understanding which you have given us that our prayers for him certainly do make the difference in how he governs, for he has told us that he daily bows his head in prayer to you and feels the many thousands of voices calling out to you to lift him in difficult times.

So....if this man in high public office who prays daily to you is contemplating leading us over an abyss, what could he possibly be thinking? What could he possibly know that we dont? What advice and counsel have you given his heart that we have not been privy to?

Father, I truly believe that the insight you have given him is that by your heavenly intercession, we will not go 'splat' as the talking head pundits would have us believe. Rather, you have given him insight that we will not be subject to those laws of gravity so deeply feared by those who have genuine and sincere concern.

What could this President be thinking?

By your grace, our Father, it is my belief that you have granted our President the understanding that we will not fall. We will not be lost. We will not be destroyed, nor will we destroy the real estate at the bottom of the cliff by our fall. Instead, you have shown him a vision of who we are.

Who are we?

By your grace, our Father, you have created us to be Eagles.

Father, thank you so much for the miracle of your light and love in our lives. Thank you for guiding this President and all our leaders, and our people, especially those who give pause to bow their heads to you. We are grateful for our young strong eagles who serve in the armed forces. We are grateful for the old wise eagles who have in their earlier days served on that same brink...even sometimes who have served with clipped wings and yet still were willing to fly for this nation as well as they could. We are grateful for the new generation of tiny eaglets who are growing and learning the ways of righteousness. We are grateful for the mother eagles, both young and old who are the woven strands holding together this nest of a free nation of eagles by their wisdom and nurturing hearts.

Father, we thank you for reminding us that you gave us wings.

Amen

[Diver Dave]

WOW!!! All this music, the graphics and the many opportunities to Support Our Troops around the country this weekend has got to be good for the old heart.

Way to go, Ladies!!!

[JulieRNR21]

Absolutely beautiful!

We're excited here im my hometown that we will have a RALLY to show our support for our President & our Troops!

Details here....please take a look & give us a BUMP!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/862375/posts

[Aquamarine]

Didn't Daisyscarlett do a good job with the opening post...and with such good timing as we prepare for all the "Support Our Troops" rallies planned around the country tomorrow.

[Iowa Granny]

Good Morning. Great thread today. It's great to be somewhere where it's possible to post. Thank you for all your efforts. I really appreciate this thread, altho I am not able to post to it very often.

[dutchess]

Good morning Billie. What an absolutely beautiful thread today. Daisy and Aqua, you've outdone yourselves. The presentation, history and, ofcourse the music is inspirational, especially with what's going on now. Looking forward to more inspirational selections today Aqua!

[Aquamarine]

I went over and bumped your Rally thread.

Here is a link to make it easier for others...just click on the ribbon.

Rally For America

[Billie]

Thank you, TEXOKIE, for your beautiful and moving prayer.

"Father, we thank you for reminding us that you gave us wings. "

[Aquamarine]

Did your morning commute go better for you today. :)

There will lots of Patriotic music today, will be playing some of the newer songs by Country singers too.

[dansangel]

What a beautiful tribute to our country and its patriotic music. With all of the Support America - Support our Troops Rallies going on this week and the next, the timing is wonderful.

I'll have to wait until I get home to listen, but I can hear the songs in my heart as I read the backgrounds on each of the selections.

{{{{{{{{{daisyscarlett}}}}}}}}}
{{{{{{{Aquamarine}}}}}}}}}}
{{{{{{{{Billie}}}}}}}}}}}

Happy Friday and thank-you for another fantastic Finest!

[Billie]

Good morning, Dave. The patriotism we see being shown right now on FR is almost overwhelming - all around the country it's so wonderful to see the support - see the rallies being planned, the prayers offered for our troops and leaders. God Bless us all!

[Aquamarine]

Nice graphic Billie! And I like that gold frame. ;)

[LadyX]

Simply beautiful effort!!!

Nan and I are among the few here who listened in childhood to Kate Smith singing on the radio that lovely rendition of God Bless America.

We were steeped in all the WWII patriotic songs, and I especially loved The White Clffs of Dover, and the poignant Coming In On A Wing and A Prayer.

The latter was often the case of our bombers returning from bombing raids over Europe, trying to get back to bases in England.

My older sister's husband-to-be was a tail gunner in one of the B-17's involved.

My current favorite is Lee Greenwood's God Bless The USA.

[Billie]

Good morning, Julie FRiend. I see that Aqua has provided an active link to your thread, which I will visit shortly. Thanks for your support today to our Team Aqua/Daisy - today's Patriotic Music should indeed rev us up!

[Aquamarine]

Hi (((Dansy))). I know you must be so excited about the Rally tomorrow. Be sure to listen to the music went you get home, it will inspire you even more! :)

[jwfiv]

I gotta tell ya, having breakfast and coffee and inspiration here every morning is like having Emeril employed as my personal cook, makin' me bacon and eggs, biscuits and gravy...wow...and today, it's just wayyyy extra special and beautiful...and, timely.

Thank you.

A big Bush-bot, red, white and blue, hitch-up-the-wagon and Let's Roll Howdy to all Freepers.

I wonder if Saddam's ever read Shakespeares, or knows of the Ides of March...)