Replies

This deserves a reminder of all four original verses as found here. AND also of the earlier verses written nine years early by the same American poet, to the same tune back when we first fought basically the same foe our Israeli friends are now fighting. Those are found at #17 of that same thread. May they soon achieve the early third verse:

In conflict resistless each toil they endured,
Till their foes shrunk dismay'd from the war's desolation:
And pale beam'd the crescent, its splendor obscur'd
By the light of the star-spangled flag of our nation.
Where each flaming star gleam'd a meteor of war,
And the turban'd heads bowed to the terrible glare.
Then mixt with the olive the laurel shall wave,
And form a bright wreath, for the brow of the brave.

The Israeli flag has fewer "flaming stars" then we had, even back then, but then their star is David's and he has a reputation for being up to big tasks. Finally may they all or nearly all, live to enjoy the first early verse:

When the warrior returns from the battle afar,
To the home and the country he has nobly defended,
Oh! Warm be the welcome to gladden his ear,
And loud be the joys that his perils are ended!
In the full tide of song, let his fame roll along.
To the feast-flowing board let us gratefully throng.
Where mixt with the olive the laurel shall wave,
And form a bright wreath for the brow of the brave.