america is the land of the free and the home of the brave

Our nation began with a few brave colonists who said no to Britain's tyrannical rule for the sake of freedom. They refused to follow the status quo, and simply said “No.” We must never forget that each freedom came with a price that the brave were willing to pay with their lives.

For example, in the creation of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, freedom and rights were at the forefront, and our nation has continually expanded those freedoms by the exploits of the brave.įrom the late 18th century to the present, new freedoms have emerged in a plethora of ways such as freedom from British tyranny, freedom from slavery, and the movement toward equal rights for all persons regardless of race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.Įach battle that has been fought and won, whether inside our national borders or beyond, has allowed us to continue as the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave. United States history provides the best illustrations of our evolution. Today, when Americans stand and sing our national anthem, are we merely following a tradition or truly understanding that since its birth, our nation has continually evolved to embody the words, “Land of the Free” and “Home of the Brave?” Liberation and courage are not mutually exclusive but forever intertwined. While standing or saluting during the singing of the Star Spangled Banner before a sports event, fans understand that the game will not start until the last lyrics are sung, “O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”įollowing an attack on our nation in 1814 by the British, Francis Scott Key wrote the lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner with joy and admiration after an all night bombardment when he discovered in the morning that the flag of our great nation was still standing at Fort McHenry, assuring our nation had not been overcome. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

America is the land of the free and the home of the brave