MARINE STUNS A TEA PARTY WITH THE FOURTH VERSE OF THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER

My 6th grade teacher, Mrs. Redd, required all of her students to learn this verse of the Star Spangled Banner. I am 68 years old now, and I still remember every word.

Better vocally sung than most celebrities who don't understand the words created from a visual night of warfare. And sung with pride.

Now that's how you sing it. No frills, no dragging, no altering in any way. Just straight, simple, on tempo, and in key. Having been a former band member who has played it numerous times, I tend to be highly critical. 10/10, this is probably one of the best solo performances I've ever heard.

From my perspective as an Aussie, I just want to say that you citizens of USA have by far the most amazing and inspiring national anthem. It gives me tingles hearing it

Not only does he have a fantastic voice, I am also someone who was left in tears as he sang our anthem. US Navy 1968-1975 Semper Fi Marine!

Someone correct him, he's not a former Marine, he IS a MARINE. Once a Marine, ALWAYS a MARINE!

My god, I’m in tears and I’m an Englishman. I just loved how everyone stood up.

I am 4th generation career U.S. Military , makes me proud to be an American .

German here. I think an onion attacked me. Or this man simply left me in tears. I salute you, Sir! God bless him and the United States. 🙏🏻

I am an American. My father was an immigrant and he taught me that this country was the greatest place to live. He lived here thru two world wars and a depression. And his love for God and Country never wavered. God Bless America.

I think we as Americans should learn the WHOLE STAR SPANGLED BANNER!!!

I despise the fact that we are not taught this verse at school. But this Marine sang it beautifully and I wish I had found this sooner

A Marine is a Marine and always will be a Marine. God bless him and all our people who serve.

Semper Fi. As a 30 year Navy retiree. I salute Every American who believes in Truth, Honesty, and America. No pretenders welcome. We fight for Freedom until we die.

Respect! I loved that everyone stood & showed their respect.

Why is God dismissed in so many things? This verse should never be forgotten. God bless this marine.

Holy shit , I’m Australian and even I thought that was awesome to watch , god bless Australia and America

That Marine can sing.

All Four Stanzas By Isaac Asimov (“Introductory Note. Unless you're already well acquainted with our "national anthem," this interesting piece by the late Isaac Asimov will be an eye-opener. It was for me. It's especially appropriate at a time when there is much talk of tossing out this difficult-to-sing and difficult-to-comprehend old song in favor of something that better suits Ray Charles' voice. You'll understand the song much better after you read Mr. Asimov's explanation.--Hardly Waite, Gazette Senior Editor.”) “I have a weakness--I am crazy, absolutely nuts, about our national anthem. The words are difficult and the tune is almost impossible, but frequently when I'm taking a shower I sing it with as much power and emotion as I can. It shakes me up every time. I was once asked to speak at a luncheon. Taking my life in my hands, I announced I was going to sing our national anthem--all four stanzas. This was greeted with loud groans. One man closed the door to the kitchen, where the noise of dishes and cutlery was loud and distracting. "Thanks, Herb," I said. "That's all right," he said. "It was at the request of the kitchen staff." I explained the background of the anthem and then sang all four stanzas. Let me tell you, those people had never heard it before--or had never really listened. I got a standing ovation. But it was not me; it was the anthem. More recently, while conducting a seminar, I told my students the story of the anthem and sang all four stanzas. Again there was a wild ovation and prolonged applause. And again, it was the anthem and not me. So now let me tell you how it came to be written. …”… … “Now that you know the story, here are the words. Presumably, the old doctor is speaking. This is what he asks Key Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, W hat so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through 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 thro' 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? "Ramparts," in case you don't know, are the protective walls or other elevations that surround a fort. The first stanza asks a question. The second gives an answer On the shore, dimly seen thro' the mist 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 on 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! "The towering steep" is again, the ramparts. The bombardment has failed, and the British can do nothing more but sail away, their mission a failure. In the third stanza, I feel Key allows himself to gloat over the American triumph. In the aftermath of the bombardment, Key probably was in no mood to act otherwise. During World War II, when the British were our staunchest allies, this third stanza was not sung. However, I know it, so here it is 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 footstep's 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. The fourth stanza, a pious hope for the future, should be sung more slowly than the other three and with even deeper feeling. Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved homes and the war's desolation, Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n - rescued land Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must, for our cause is just, And this be our motto--"In God is our trust." And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. I hope you will look at the national anthem with new eyes. Listen to it, the next time you have a chance, with new ears. And don't let them ever take it away. --Isaac Asimov, March 1991 http://purewatergazette.net/asimov.htm

Watching all the people begin to stand up in recognition and pride as this great man gave an amazing lesson to us all was incredible. They recognized this verse as their national anthem, because it IS our national anthem. Whether or not you know only the first verse, or know every verse, this is the Star Spangled Banner of the United States of America, and I will proudly be standing for it until the day I can't stand any longer. I'm also happy and proud to know that I won't be standing alone.