“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.” Psalm 33:12

One of my favorite patriotic songs is “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.” Years ago, when I was in grade school, we had a program of all patriotic songs ranging through the wars at that time. We loved to sing those old songs.

My neighbor and girlfriend got to be the Statue of Liberty. Since I was the narrator, I got to stand by her in front of the American flag as we sang. I think we also read the poem by Emma Lazarus that is on the Statue of Liberty. I remember that a fan blew the flag as we stood there. It was very impressive!

When I taught kindergarten, I taught my students that song. It was easier to sing than the Star-Spangled Banner. Each morning the helper for the day held the American flag and started the Pledge of Allegiance. After that the helper held the flag while we sang “My County Tis of Thee.” That was a cherished job. Each child had a turn.

Often, we sang the song in church during one of the patriotic holidays. It is always nice to sing those special songs that remind us of what our nation stands for.

Patriotic music is stirring. Whenever they play “Hail to the Chief” it brings tears. Recently I attended a funeral with full military honors. I was touched when a couple older gentlemen asked if they could get in

line ahead of me. They were having a hard time standing. Of course, I let them in. They had been in the service with the deceased.

As the service progressed, there was the playing of “Taps”, the gun salute, and the folding of the flag from the casket. I knew what the wife was feeling because there was a full service for Don when he passed. I held it together until they handed me that folded flag.

“My Country ‘Tis of Thee” was written centuries ago. The author, Samuel Francis Smith lived during the 1800s. The melody is from the 1700s. Interestingly enough “The Star-Spangled Banner” was not adopted as our national anthem until 1931. Somehow this fact escaped my memory.

The author of this hymn penned at least 150 hymns. Lowell Mason, a noted musician of the time, gave Smith a copy of an old German song called “God Bless our Native Land”. It is said that inspired Smith to begin writing his song on a scrap of paper that he had with him. He wrote all four verse that we still sing today.

On the following July 4 Lowell Mason’s children’s choir from the Park Street Congregational Church of Boston sang this hymn for the first time. It was immediately adopted as a favorite patriotic song.

I was happy to find this bit of history since the song was a favorite of mine. In two years as our country celebrates two hundred and fifty years, I am sure this song will be sung once again.

The only other patriotic song that comes close as far as I am concerned is the one by Lee Greenwood, “God Bless the USA”. He was asked to sing it this year during the Army’s celebration on June 14, 2025.

When Lee Greenwood appeared years ago at our fair, I was privileged to work with him backstage. He had a delightful personality. I have a picture of the two of us as we talked. Since my husband was home milking cows – he was supposed to get there – I put it up in my camper to annoy him!

As we celebrate the 4th of July let us remember what that event stands for. Let us recall all of the effort that went into us becoming a free country. We should not take these things for granted. There are those who want to take them away. God bless the U. S. A.

Ann Swanson writes from her home of Russell. Contact her at hickoryheights1@verizon.net.