America

A Reason To Smile

Credit: Getty Images

Patriotism can mean different things to different people. For me, patriotism is a deep love for one’s country, rooted in civic pride and duty, coupled with a commitment to uphold America’s foundational ideals, chief among them freedom and liberty.

Patriotism doesn’t belong to a political party. It is not tied to where you live or whom you vote for. And it cannot be co-opted by a president.

Patriotism is what we celebrate on the Fourth of July, the anniversary of the Founding Fathers declaring independence from Britain. Two hundred fifty years ago, 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress did the most patriotic thing imaginable, though many believed it was treasonous. They signed Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence.

To celebrate one of the bravest acts in American history, we have chosen an oft-overlooked song that honors this great country. It was our unofficial national anthem for a hundred years, until “The Star-Spangled Banner” was adopted in 1931.

“My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” originally titled “America,” and was written by Samuel Francis Smith in 1831. He paired his lyrics with a well-known melody, that of the British national anthem, “God Save the King.”

What you are about to watch is one of the most powerful renditions of the song I’ve ever heard. The music is incredible, but it’s also the moment — a time in our country when there was less anger and for many, more hope.

Please enjoy the United States Marine band, also known as The President’s Own, accompanying Kelly Clarkson at President Barack Obama’s second inauguration. Ms. Clarkson gave the song her all. And her “all” is amazing.

The song is associated with several acts of patriotism.

In 1939, Marian Anderson, an acclaimed Black singer, was barred from performing at the Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall because of its whites-only policy. Instead, she held a concert outside at the Lincoln Memorial that included “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.”

During Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963, also at the Lincoln Memorial, he recited the first verse of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.”

My country, ‘tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From ev’ry mountainside
Let freedom ring!

Let freedom ring indeed. Happy 4th to you all!

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Stay Steady,

Dan