Remembering the Star-Spangled Banner
Today we celebrate 4 years since our small American business took flight! It happens to fall on a day when we remember the sacrifices of the great men and women who took to the battlefield to defend the cause of freedom.
Yesterday at our local church service, we sung the Star-Spangled Banner. Nearly every American is familiar with the first verse, sung before every sporting event and often in the political arena. Did you know there are actually four verses to our national anthem? When this song was penned during the war of 1812, Francis Scott Key could probably never have predicted this ode to the American flag – which only had 15 stars at the time – would be sung every day by countless people. He also would have never have guessed those singing it would not know a single word after completing the first verse. 
My favorite part of the remaining verses comes in the second stanza and goes like this:
“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”
Envision in your mind being on the wrong side of enemy lines and seeing over the ridge line the flag of your country still being raised to signify control over territory and that you were nearly safe! Obviously, we’re pretty passionate about flags. Flags have always had meaning, but no one has loved the American flag more than a soldier fighting for freedom and being able to see that banner of freedom within their gaze!
When you see the American flag today, try and imagine what the author of this melodious sonnet would have been thinking and feeling during the war of 1812. It’s privilege to be free. People died to preserve that freedom. Don’t take it for granted.
We hope you’ll consider celebrating with us today! Take advantage of $5 Betsy Ross socks with code MEMORIAL21 & $6 signature hats as well as 40% off all our other sock styles until midnight Pacific PDT!
With Liberty,
The State Mate