Keep this image in mind as we proceed in "Lesson in Patriotism".
The Truth:
The picture is authentic. It was published in Time magazine and was taken 9/16/07 at an event in Indianola, Iowa where six Democratic presidential candidates appeared. It was Iowa Senator Tom Harkin's annual "meat and greet." The fourth person in the picture is Senator Harkin's wife, Ruth.
Listen while the Star Spangled Banner is played.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU9iCANi02o
ALL AMERICA NEEDS TO SEE THIS.
What you get from Obama every time the U.S. Flag is presented or the National Anthem is played.......an insulting "crotch salute"!! The stench from this image should singe the nostrils of every Red Blooded true American Patriot!!!
TRUE PATRIOTISM DEMONSTRATED IN DEEDS AND ACTIONS
Origin of our National Anthem, “THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER”
The war of 1812....us and England at it again!! The siege of Ft. McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland; September 13th, 1814 the bombardment began. Once again, the infliction of arrogant power upon a 36 year old country, as only the British could do.
DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF THE BRITISH
For twenty five continuous hours the latest ordnance of the mighty British Fleet rained upon Ft. McHenry; defended by 1000 American Militia under the command of Major George Armistead (an uncle of Confederate Army General Lewis Armistead who was later killed at Gettysburg during the American Civil War). 1800 cannon balls and the new Congreve Rockets, launched at closer range from smaller craft from the armada of 19 heavy British Warships fresh from the defeat of Napoleon of the European theatre of war anchored just out of range of the 20 cannons arming Ft. McHenry, pounded, almost without cessation. Ft. Mchenry’s ordnance consisted of 18, 24 and 38 pound cannons with a range of 1.5 miles. The British had a range of 2.0 miles and their rockets a range of 1.75 miles.
In preparation of the pending battle that was expected, Major Armistead commissioned Mary Youngs Pickersgill, a local seamstress to make two flags for Ft. McHenry. A large one and a smaller one to fly in bad weather for the sum total of $405.90. The larger one being 30 x 42 feet, so it could be seen from a great distance, unmistakably, by the advancing British Admiralty. It was sewn with 15 stars and 15 stripes, representing the number of States, then in the Union.
On September 3rd, 1814, prior to the siege, Colonel John Stuart and a young attorney by the name of Francis Scott Key set sail on the sloop HMS Minden, flying a flag of truce on a humanitarian mission, set sail in search of the British flag ship HMS Tonnant. Tonnant, the flag ship of the British fleet commander, Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane and field troop commander Major General Robert Ross. Their mission was to secure the release of an American medical doctor having been captured and held by the British, one Dr. William Beanes, the elderly and popular town physician of Upper Marlboro. Beanes was captured in his home and accused of aiding the arrest of British Soldiers.
On September 7th, the sloop Minden happened upon the gathering armada and was allowed aboard the HMS Tonnant for the negotiations. Negotiations proceeded over dinner. At first Admiral Chochrane refused to release Dr. Beanes. However, Francis Key produced letters from wounded British prisoners who praised Dr. Beanes for his kind and professional treatment during their captivity. Finally, the Admiral and the General relented and agreed to Dr. Beanes’s release.
Regrettably, Beanes negotiation was not the only discussion at that evening’s dinner.
In the presence of the Americans, Ross and Cochrane began discussing their plans to take Baltimore and Ft. McHenry. They therefore could not allow their “guests” to leave until the siege was completed. They were retained aboard the HMS Minden for the duration of the upcoming siege.
In order to inflict maximum humiliation and psychological defeat the Admiral ordered fusillade after fusillade directly at the huge American flag, clearly visible at Ft. McHenry. His arrogance would not allow him otherwise. As rockets continued to light the sky, to the Admiral’s profound astonishment, every time it seemed the flag had been stricken, he would see it flying again and again; fusillade after fusillade. The Admiral exclaiming, “this is not possible. I have brought the entire might of the British fleet upon that emblem and yet it remains”.
The following re-quoted excerpts from www.historycentral.com/Documents/StarSpangled.html:
“Between two and three o’clock in the morning the British, with one or two rocket and several bomb vessels manned by 1,200 picked men, attempted, under cover of darkness, to slip past the fort and the Patapsco, hoping to effect a landing and attack the garrison in the rear.
Succeeding in evading the guns of the fort, but unmindful of Fort Covington, under whose batteries they next came, their enthusiasm over the supposed success of the venture gave in a derisive cheer, which, borne by the damp night air to our small party of Americans on the Minden, must have chilled the blood in their veins and pierced their patriotic hearts like a dagger. ‘Fort Covington’, the lazaretto, and the American barges in the river now simultaneously poured a galling fire upon the unprotected enemy, raking them fore and aft, in horrible slaughter. Disappointed and disheartened, many wounded and dying, they endeavored to regain their ships, which came closer the fortifications in an endeavor to protect retreat.
A fierce battle ensued. Fort McHenry opened the full force of all her batteries upon them as they repassed, and the fleet responding with entire broadsides made an explosion so terrific that it seemed as tho Mother Earth had opened and was vomiting shot and shell in a sheet of fire and brimstone.
The heavens aglow were a seething sea of flame, and the waters of the harbor, lasht into an angry sea by the vibrations, the Minden rode and tossed as tho in a tempest. It is recorded that the houses in the city of Baltimore, two miles distant, were shaken to their foundations. Above the tempestuous roar, intermingled with its hubbub and confusion, were heard the shrieks and groans of the dying and wounded. But alas ! they were from the direction of the fort. What did it mean? For over an hour the pandemonium reigned. Suddenly it ceased—all was quiet, not a shot fired or sound heard, a deathlike stillness prevailed, as the darkness of night resumed its sway. The awful stillness and suspense were unbearable.
With the first approach of dawn, "Mr. Key turned his weary and bloodshot eyes in the direction of the fort and its flag, but the darkness had given place to a heavy fog of smoke and mist which now enveloped the harbor and hung close down to the surface of the water." Reading on we learn from Mr. Key Smith:
"Some time must yet elapse before anything definite might be ascertained, or the object of his aching heart's desire discerned. At last it came. A bright streak of gold mingled with crimson shot athwart the eastern sky, followed by another and still another, as the morning sun rose in the fullness of his glory, lifting 'the mists of the deep,' crowning a 'Heaven-blest land' with a new victory and grandeur.
Through a vista in the smoke and vapor could now be dimly seen the flag of his country. As it caught 'The gleam of the morning's first beam,' and, 'in full glory reflected shone in the stream' his proud and patriotic heart knew no bounds; the wounds inflicted 'by the battle's confusion' were healed instantly as if by magic; a new life sprang into every fiber, and his pent-up emotions burst forth with an inspiration in a song of praise, victory, and thanksgiving as he exclaimed:
" "Tis the Star-Spangled Banner, Oh long may it wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.'
"As the morning's sun arose, vanquishing the darkness and gloom; lifting the fog and smoke and disclosing his country's flag, victorious, bathed in the delicate hues of morn, only an inspiration caught from such a sight can conceive or describe, and so only in the words of his song can be found the description.”
“Then, in that hour of deliverance, my heart spoke, “Does not such a country, and such defenders of their country, deserve a song”
FRANCIS SCOTT KEY
As the morning awakened and the smog of battle lifted, the bodies of the dead souls who continued to raise the flag after being stricken by each fusillade lay collected at the base of our emblem of Freedom and a new Republic, yet to be tested again and again, defied the arrogance and fury of the mighty British Armada!! They gave their full measure.
What do we get from Barry Soetoro….a “CROTCH SALUTE” !!
Not only does he not understand what it means to be an American Patriot, he is un-American in every respect. This man should not be tolerated. He must be removed from office.
Full lyrics to our National Anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner”:
The Star Spangled Banner
by Francis Scott Key
O say! can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night, that our flag was still there.
O say! does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen thro' the mist of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream.
'Tis the Star-Spangled Banner. O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov'd home and war's desolation,
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n-rescued land
Praise the pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto, "In God is our Trust."
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Sung to the tune "To Anacreon in Heaven"
For an amazing rendition click on the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ksw7LVB3CoA
A Marine Patriot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0fQd858cRc&feature=player_embedded
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