Celebrate Any Patriotic Holiday With These Beloved Songs

Singing patriotic songs with your family is a fun way to cause them to pause and think about the people who have paid so much for their freedom. Here are some songs that you might want to consider singing with your family.

Star-Spangled Banner

Francis Scott Key wrote the Star-Spangled Banner which he titled The Defense of Fort McHenry in 1841 while he was held prisoner on a ship near Baltimore. It was not until 1931 that President Hoover made it the National Anthem.

God Bless America

Irving Berlin who also wrote White Christmas composed God Bless America in 1918. While most Americans can sing it today, Berlin initially placed the song in a discarded song file until he revived it for Kate Smith to sing on the first official Armistice Day in 1938.

God Bless the USA

While most people associate God Bless the USA with the September 11th attacks, Lee Greenwood actually wrote the song in 1983, and he recorded it in 1984. The inspiration behind the song was Russia shooting down the Korean jet flying to Seoul from New York City.

This Land Is Your Land

Originally titled God Blessed America for Me, Woody Allen wrote This Land is Your Land in 1940 because he was tired of listening to Irving Berlin's God Bless America. He borrowed heavily from the hymn Oh My Loving Brother and a song sung by the Carter Family named When the World's on Fire.

Battle Hymn of the Republic

Julie Howe wrote the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic within minutes during the Civil War. It was first published in the Atlantic Monthly Magazine in 1862 and was one of President Abraham Lincoln's favorite hymns.

My Country 'Tis of Thee

While a student at Andover Theological Seminary in Andover, Massachusetts, Samuel F. Smith wrote My Country 'Tis of Thee in 1832. He borrowed the melody from God Save the King.

Honor Your Heros

Consider how to get the family involved in showing appreciation to the heroes in our lives. Joining voices together on the next patriotic holiday by singing these American favorites may be the perfect place to start. You may find that everyone has so much fun that they do it every holiday. Heroes come in many different forms, so you may want to ask your children to name some of their favorite heroes and talk about why they find them inspirational. Additionally, you could take a more hands-on approach and help veterans who are struggling financially through volunteering your time and expertise. You could help them with purchasing a home or car, help them in selecting the right home loans or auto loans, or help them to secure a job. Sharing your time and knowledge could be a huge help in getting these heroes back on their feet.

These are some great songs and methods to celebrate America and patriotism. Whether you celebrate on the Fourth of July, your state’s birthday, or even on 9/11 to display remembrance and determination for the future, they’re great songs to get you feeling the love and spirit of America. For more articles on how music can help you learn and feel new experiences, check out our blog!