Friday, July 6, 2012

The land of the free...





A little excited to see the firetrucks!


We celebrated Independence day trying to beat the heat, which was pretty hard to do.  Especially considering the political marketing walk, ah, I mean parade, was at 2:00.  Fortunately I went early to secure some spots in the shade.  Even with that it was still a scorcher.  We then had some good friends over for dinner and a few fireworks courtesy of our resident pyro's, Kyle and Taylor (pictures on the Instagram link on the upper right).  We have pretty good view from our house of not only Waukee fireworks, but Des Moines Golf's and Teamwork Acres as well.  All in all, in was a nice day to lounge around, drink lemonade and to remember the fact that we get to do that because of the sacrifices of so many men and women who have fought for this country.  

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, 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 through the mists 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! Oh 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 washed out their foul footsteps' 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!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved 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!


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