STORY BOOK
February Music
Betsy Ross
The Pledge of Allegiance.
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Not a song, but you will feel the patriotic music behind these words. These words of Red Skelton have twice been read into the Congressional Record of the United States.
Abigail Adams
This month's songs don't necessarily tie into the stories but I wanted to give you a collection of America's most patriotic songs as this is a month to celebrate the new nation. Most of them have lyrics to sing along with! Abigail Adams certainly loved her country.
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My Country, 'Tis of Thee -- the melody is identical to England's God Save the Queen.
Days of Weakness & confusion
Our National Hymn: God of Our Fathers, Whose Almighty Hand
A New Constitution
Constitution is Completed
Will the States Ratify?
This march was written by a German immigrant in 1917 and has been used to introduce the President and President-elect at various events.
Coming "Under the roof"
Beginning
of the Government
The States Guard Their Rights
Electing the President
War Amendments
This song was also in competition to be our national anthem. The melody is identical to the British Brittania, the Pride of the Ocean. It was written after the Star-Spangled Banner, borrowing some of its phrases from it.
Twentieth Century Amendments
John Marshall
James Madison
Lowell Mason was born three years after George Washington became the first president. He was known to fame the world over for his ability to play the organ, flute, clarinet, violin, and cello; and to write and teach music; and for the fact that he established music in America as a regular part of school instruction. He wrote many of the most popular books ever used in American singing schools. Some of his best known hymns for which he composed the familiar music are Joy to the World, Nearer My God to Thee, and From Greenland's Icy Mountain.
English & Americans Fought
How and why Joseph Hopkinson wrote the words of Hail, Columbia is best told in his own words:
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"Hail, Columbia was written in the summer of 1798, when war with France was thought to be inevitable... The contest between England and France was still raging, and the people of the United States were divided into parties for the one side or for the other...
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"The object of the author was to get up an American spirit which should be independent of, and above the interests, passion, and policy of both belligerents, and look and feel exclusively for our honor and rights.
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"No illusion is made to France or England, of the quarrel between them, or to the question of which was most in fault in their treatment of us. Of course, the song found favor with both political parties here, for both were American; at least neither could disown the sentiments and feelings it indicated. Such is the history of this song, which has endured infinitely beyond the expectation of the author, as it is beyond any merit it can boast of except that of being truly and exclusively patriotic in its sentiment and spirit."
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It became the unofficial national anthem for many years.
Dolly Madison
