FReeper Canteen ~ The Star Spangled Banner ~ 14 September 2017

Serving The Bestest Troops and Veterans In The Whole World !! | The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Star Spangled Banner ~
Written by Francis Scott Key (1814)

Canteen Mission Statement

Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.

The War of 1812 had been a particularly nasty conflict with the British. They had burned down the Capitol and the White House in Washington, and were set on taking the port of Baltimore, which was protected in part by Fort McHenry, just to the south.

On September 7th, 1814, during the build-up to the attack on Baltimore, two Americans, Colonel John Skinner and a lawyer and part-time poet by the name of Francis Scott Key, had gone out to one of the British ships. They had come to negotiate the release of Dr William Beanes, a friend of Key who had been seized following the attack on Washington. The British agreed, but all three had learned too much about the forthcoming attack on Baltimore and so were detained by the British on board the frigate Surprise until it was over.

The attack started on September 12th, 1814, and after an initial exchange of fire, the fleet withdrew to form an arc just outside the range of Fort McHenry's fire.

Skinner, Beanes and Key watched much of the bombardment from the British deck. The major attack started in heavy rain on the morning of September 13th. Just under three miles in the distance the three men caught glimpses of the star-shaped fort with its huge flag - 42ft long, with 8 red stripes, 7 white stripes and 15 white stars, and specially commissioned to be big enough that the British could not possibly fail to see it from a distance.

In the dark of the night of the 13th, the shelling suddenly stopped. Through the darkness they couldn't tell whether the British forces had been defeated, or the fort had fallen.

As the rain cleared, and the sun began to rise, Key peered through the lifting darkness anxious to see if the flag they had seen the night before was still flying. And so it was that he scribbled on the back of an envelope the first lines of a poem he called Defense of Fort M'Henry.

O, say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming

More info here...

STAR SPANGLED BANNER

Boston Pops

Barbershop Quartet

Josh Groban

Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Mannheim Steamroller

Francis Scott Key

Lynyrd Skynyrd ~ Red, White, and Blue

Mannheim Steamroller ~ America The Beautuful

The Jones Brothers ~ There’s A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere

Lee Greenwood ~ 911 Tribute

Randy Travis ~ Heroes and Friends

The Star Spangled Banner

Please remember that The Canteen is is here to support
and entertain our troops and their families,
and is family friendly.

[luvie]

What a treasure!

[luvie]

Did you get to go somewhere fun today? Do you or your company fly into Jackson Hole? I need to check for prices. it’s a cha-ching destination. LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome to the Canteen, OttawaFreeper...what a wonderful and treasured find.

[radu]

Howdy do, Conor! *HUGZ*

Hope you had a good day!

[PROCON]

YAY, so glad you're out and about!

(((HUGS))

[PROCON]

That eagle is awesome, thanks LUV!

[ConorMacNessa]

Good evening, Radu!

*HUGS*

A great day, thanks! And you?

"I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces guarding our country and our way of life.
I am prepared to give my life in their defense."

[radu]

Howdy, PRO.

The Star Spangled Banner still brings tears to my eyes whenever I hear it properly played and sang.

Same here. Sometimes there aren't tears because of the singers who feel they need to "jazz it up" and it doesn't have the same effect.

[luvie]

He is very special and seems to love his flights.

[luvie]

?

[radu]

Cool! Glad your day was so good!

Mine was great too. Heard from a friend in FL and found out he and his family are ok and their house survived intact. Then heard from a friend in GA at last and she and her hubby came through all the damage safely and with their house intact. My feet aren’t touching the floor at the moment due to elation.

[luvie]

Howdy, radu! Hope your day went well. Any more rain? I guess the grass is shooting up after the 2+ inches you got the other day?

I'm watching "The Pilot's Wife". Another necessity at the time of 9-11 memories. I guess because I watched it a day or two after it actually happened and it's part of the things I have to do. Hard to explain.....

[ConorMacNessa]

Glad to hear it, Radu! My boys are both safe, thank the Lord!

"I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces guarding our country and our way of life.
I am prepared to give my life in their defense."

[PROCON]

Hiya radu!

Sometimes there aren't tears because of the singers who feel they need to "jazz it up" and it doesn't have the same effect.

Yeah, when they ruin it with their own 'rendition' it pisses me off and I tune it out.

My son came over around 10:00 this morning and he's still here hanging, he's been doing homework most of the time, with intervals of eating (a lot!) and playing video games.

Going to sign off until tomorrow.

[radu]

Howdy, LUV!

Hope your day was a good one.

Don’t you know all those people in the Keys are happy to see our military arrive with some water and food to help them get through their ordeal. They must feel so isolated down there and this has to be a boost to morale.
They have a long road ahead.

[radu]

WOOHOO! Howdy, MS.B!

So glad to know you’re home and doing well!

[radu]

WOOHOO! #50 is yours!
You were paying attention tonight. :-)

[radu]

It was a GOOD day since I finally heard from friends who were hit by Irma and know they’re all safe and sound. I’ve been fretting about them something fierce.

We’ve had some drizzly rain but it looks like it’s about through with us now. The sun is supposed to break out again tomorrow afternoon/evening. The grass has grown a bit but will probably take off once it gets some sunshine and warmth, much to Hubby’s dismay.

I was watching the next-to-last episode of “Salvation” a little earlier. It’s turned out to be one of the best summer fillers I’ve seen in a long time.

[radu]

Yes, I saw your post the other night about your sons and was thrilled at the news. I know y’all were worried about how things were with them. So many people weren’t so lucky.

[luvie]

The guy they interviewed started crying, he was so relieved to have food and water for his family. Their home was destroyed. :(

It was a good day here...WAY too hot, and will be tomorrow. Then it cools off again. Thank goodness!