Three cheers for the red, white and blue,
For the red is the blood of our brothers.
The white is the light of the star
That has led us to where we are.
The blue is the hue of the sky
Where on high the Almighty falters never.
Our banner for two hundred years!
Oh pioneers! Here’s to the stars and stripes forever!
Charles Burr penned these lyrics and John Phillips Sousa composed the rousing music. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation today, we need to take a moment to be captivated by what the lyrics teach.
The red is the blood of our brothers. On Memorial Day, we lifted our hearts to once again remember the many who were examples of what Jesus said in John 15:13. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” During the past 250 years, approximately 1.3 million have given the ultimate of sacrifice. The Congressional Research Service’s American War and Military Operations Casualties database tells us that another 1,622,933 were wounded. A lot of blood has been shed.
The white is the light of the star. This lyric is a nod to Matthew 2:1-2 where it says, “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, (2) Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” Though the men and women of America have been fallible, we still acknowledge that God – often called Providence by the early fathers – brought us to this land, guiding us as if by that star.
The blue is the hue of the sky where on high the Almighty falters never. Modern day historians and revisionists have done everything in their power to strip our history of references to God. However, there is no denying that there has been a strong belief in God and the fact that He never falters. He never fails. He does all things good and right.
America was founded as a Christian nation. Though I would never claim that all of our forefathers were Christians, I do believe that their values and morality were derived from the Judeo-Christian ethic. This was done without apology or explanation because it was the right thing to do. It was seen as necessary for our nation to form and with any hope that it would continue.
Would our forefathers be complimentary if they could comment on where our nation has gone? Would they be proud of the laws that have been passed? Would they feel like their efforts were honored? Reading historical documents and seeing pictures of the first Continental Congress on their knees in prayer makes me think that they would feel great disappointment and sadness.
Our nation, though, has survived for 250 years. We cannot pat ourselves on the back for that. To God be the glory.
Psalms 33:12 reminds us, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”
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