4th of July 2009

Today marks our 233 birthday


and, with all that has been happen- ing to us lately, it seems like we are beginn- ing to look and feel our age!

I think that it is only appropriate for us as Americans, and for the rest of the world, to look up to our Creator and ask for his guidance through these troubled times.

The following song was written by a Russian immigrant to America and a Jew , Irving Berlin, and I have often felt that it should have been our National Anthem.




We not only need His blessings, but we also need to show our appreciation for all that he has given us:

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,

Let us swear allegiance to the land that's free,

Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,

As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer."









God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam.


God bless America, My home sweet home.




GOD BLESS AMERICA, MY HOME SWEET HOME!





America's unofficial national anthem was composed by an immigrant who left his home in Siberia for America when he was only five years old. The original version of "God Bless America" was written by Irving Berlin (1888-1989) during the summer of 1918 at Camp Upton, located in Yaphank, Long Island, for his Ziegfeld-style revue, Yip, Yip, Yaphank. "Make her victorious on land and foam, God Bless America..." ran the original lyric. However, Berlin decided that the solemn tone of "God Bless America" was somewhat out of keeping with the more comedic elements of the show and the song was laid aside.

In the fall of 1938, as war was again threatening Europe, Berlin decided to write a "peace" song. He recalled his "God Bless America" from twenty years earlier and made some alterations to reflect the different state of the world. Singer Kate Smith introduced the revised "God Bless America" during her radio broadcast on Armistice Day, 1938. The song was an immediate sensation; the sheet music was in great demand. Berlin soon established the God Bless America Fund, dedicating the royalties to the Boy and Girl Scouts of America.





"HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA"
and let us celebrate this with the rest of world! Welcome to our party!