When my dad was buried at Arlington, they played it for him there while they walked the casket to the grave.
It was stunningly emotional and beautiful. Then, while the folded the flag, they played "Going Home". Both songs bring tears to my eyes.
That ones nice almost as good as the Navy Hymn
Eternal Father, Strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bid’st the mighty Ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to thee,
for those in peril on the sea.
O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walked’st on the foaming deep,
and calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!
Most Holy spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!
O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe’er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee,
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
Of course for the more colloquial and less religious bent I like “My country Tis of thee” (also called “America) by Samuel Franscis Smith over America the Beautiful.
Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA/Proud to Be an American” is nice.
Yankee Doodle Dandy, Battle Hymn of the Republic (though I know it creates some historical antagonism it’s a beautiful song), God Bless America, Your a Grand Old Flag, Stars and Stripes Forever, Some Gave All.
Battle of New Orleans is a favorite and finally ... American Pie just cause I love that ol’ song.
There’s a bunch more but those tend to rouse me up.
OOOOOhhhh. The Navy Hymn. My eyes get all blurry at the first words and notes of that one. All of the men in my family who served in the military were in the Navy after the Revolution — from Annapolis grads (both died in WWII) down to raw recruits. Thanks for the reminder.
And Anchors Aweigh is a good one too. And the Caissons go Rolling Along and the Wild Blue Yonder should be included too.
I don’t like that song Hannity uses as a theme with the words “...a boot in your a$$, that’s the American Way.” Really. That is NOT the American Way. This is the most welcoming and charitable country on earth. Often to our disadvantage, but hospitable and charitable anyway.
When my dad was buried at Arlington, they played it for him there while they walked the casket to the grave.
It was stunningly emotional and beautiful. Then, while the folded the flag, they played "Going Home". Both songs bring tears to my eyes.
“Eternal Father, Strong to Save”—the Navy Hymn—with words by William Whiting and music by John Dykes, who wrote the music for many great hymns such as “Holy, Holy, Holy,” is, sadly, absent from the current Methodist hymnal. I hope they put it back in when the new hymnal finally comes out, but I’m not holding my breath.