Latest / Voices Of Life / 250 Years of the Declaration of Independence: Faith, Freedom, and the Songs of a Nation

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250 Years of the Declaration of Independence: Faith, Freedom, and the Songs of a Nation · Voices Of Life

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Bye. This is our tribute to 250 years of faith
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and freedom. Welcome to the Voices of Life podcast,
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a ministry of the Church for Life. I'm Pastor
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David. Today we gather as one people, under one
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flag, remembering one moment that changed the
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world forever. 250 years ago, on July 4th, 1776,
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the Continental Congress declared that the 13
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American colonies were, and of right ought to
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be, free and independent states. But they did
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not stand alone. They stood with prayer. They
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stood with conviction. They stood with songs.
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Songs that carried courage into campfires, hope
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into churches, and resolve into the hearts of
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the ordinary men and women who believed freedom
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was worth everything. This Voices of Life Independence
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Day special is dedicated to 250 years of faith
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and freedom and to the music that shaped the
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soul, of a rising nation tonight we journey colony
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by colony 13 and all each honored with a historic
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song that reflects their spirit its struggle
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and its contribution to the american story so
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take a breath settle your heart and let us begin
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our pilgrimage through the music of liberty the
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first song we'll dedicate to massachusetts and
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that is free america written by Joseph Warren
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in 1774. We begin with a spark first caught flame,
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Massachusetts, before the Declaration, before
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the battles, before the Continental Army. There
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was a doctor named Joseph Warren who penned a
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song of defiance and hope, Free America. And
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Free America became a rallying cry for Boston's
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patriots. It was sung in the taverns, whispered
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in meetings and carried in the hearts of those
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who believed tyranny could and must be resisted
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tonight we honor massachusetts with warren's
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bold anthem of liberty Thank you. Thank you.
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God bless this maiden climate and through her
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vast domain may hosts of heroes cluster who scorn
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to wear Then guard your rights, Americans, nor
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stoop to lawless sway. Oppose, oppose, oppose,
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oppose for North America. Some future day shall
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crown us the masters of the main. Song 2 we dedicate
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to Connecticut. And that will be Yankee Doodle.
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The Continental Army Version 1775. Connecticut's
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contribution to our musical heritage is one of
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the most recognizable tunes in American history.
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Yankee Doodle began as a British satire, but
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in 1775, the Continental Army claimed it, transformed
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it, and made it their own. It became a marching
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song of confidence, humor, and unity, a reminder
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that the American soldier could laugh in the
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face of adversity and still press forward. Tonight,
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we honor Connecticut. with the Continental Army's
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spirited version, Yankee Doodle. As thick as
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tasty pudding, Yankee Doodle keep it up, Yankee
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Doodle Dandy. Find the music and the step and
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with the girls be handy. And then they cry for
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way like fun and play on corn stalk fiddles.
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And some men ribbons red as blood all bound around
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their middles. Keep it up, Yankee Doodle Dandy.
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Find the music and the step and with the... Thank
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you. To call the men together, Yankee Doodle,
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keep it up, Yankee Doodle Dandy. I'm the music
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and the snap and with the girls behind me. And
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there they had a swamp and got as big as a log
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of maple. On a mighty little car, the load for
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father's cattle. Yankee Doodle, keep it up, Yankee
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Doodle Dandy. It made a noise like only a nation
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Song three we dedicate to New Hampshire. Fish
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and Tea. New England protest song 1770s. New
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Hampshire's story is woven into the fabric of
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New England's resistance. Fish and Tea emerged
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as a protest song against unfair taxation. A
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light -hearted but pointed reminder that the
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colonies would not be bullied into submission.
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It carried the humor, grit, and independence
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of New Hampshire's people. A song that said,
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in essence, we will choose our own destiny. Tonight
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we honor New Hampshire with this spirited protest
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of the 1770s. What a court hath old England of
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folly and sin, spite of Chatham and Camden, Barry
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Burke, Wilkes and Glynn. Not content with the
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Game Act, they tax fish and sea, and America
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drenched with hot water and tea. Down, down,
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down. There's no knowing where this oppression
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will stop. Some say there's no cure but a capital
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chop. And that, I believe, is each American's
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wish. Since you've drenched them with tea and
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deprived them of fish. Derry, derry, down, down,
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down, derry, down. Then freedom's the word both
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at home and abroad. And out every scabbard that
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hides a good sword Our forefathers gave us this
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freedom in hand And we'll die in defense of the
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rights of the land Derry down, down, down Derry
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down, down, down Derry down Song 4 we dedicate
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to Pennsylvania. Mad Anthony Wayne, a revolutionary
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war ballard. Few figures in the Revolution were
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as fearless or as fiery as General Anthony Wayne.
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Pennsylvania remembers him through a ballard
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that celebrates his courage, his daring, and
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his relentlessness in the pursuit of victory.
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Mad Anthony Wayne is more than a song. It is
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a portrait of bravery under fire. A reminder
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that freedom often advances on the shoulders
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of those willing to risk everything. Tonight
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we honor Pennsylvania with this Revolutionary
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War tribute to one of the boldest sons. Bang,
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bang, the rifles go. Down falls the startled
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foe. Aim, fire, exclaim his eyes. Bang, bang,
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each one replies. Ran, tan, the bugles sound.
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Our forces fill the ground. Tramp, tramp, away
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they go. Now retreats the beaten foe. Many a
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friend called the continental scorning shall
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never meet the blaze of the broad sunlight that
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shines on the morrow morning. His sword blade
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gleams, and his eye light beams, and never glanced
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either in vain. Like the ocean tide at our head,
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he rides the fearless mad Anthony Wayne. Bang,
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bang, the rifles go. Down falls the star -willed
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foe. We will be the brave boy of the continent
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to scorn. It shall never meet the blaze of the
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broad sunlight that shines on the morrow morning.
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Was e 'er a chief of his speech so brief, who
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honors his wishes so plain? E 'er he speaks a
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word, the orders are heard from the eyes of Matt
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Anthony Wayne. Aim, fire, exclaim his eyes. Bang,
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bang, each gun replies. Bang, bang, the rifles
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go. Down falls the star -coiled foe. Many a rainbow,
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the continental scorning, shall never meet the
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blaze of the broad sunlight that shines on the
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morrow morning. It is best to fall at our country's
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call if we must leave this lifetime of pain.
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And who would shrink from the perilous brink
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when led by Matt Anthony Wayne? Ran, tan, the
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bugle sound. Our force is still the ground. Aim,
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fire, exclaim his eyes. Bang, bang, each gun
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replies. Bang, bang, the rifles go. Down falls
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the star from the fall. ranks in firm phalanx
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it will melt on our rifle ball rain every shot
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must tell on a red coat well or we anger mad
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anthony wayne tramp tramp away they go now retreats
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the beaten foe grand tan the bugle sound our
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force is still the ground aim fire exclaim his
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eyes bang bang each gun replies bang bang the
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rifles go down falls the startle Song 5, we dedicate
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to New York. My Country, Tis of Thee, the 1916
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recording by Wernick R. Smith and Past Nick Jay.
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New York Gateway of Nations, Cradle of Liberty's
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Promise, the 1916 and 17 recordings of My country,
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tis of thee, carried the voice of a nation entering
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the modern era, yet still rooted in the ideals
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proclaimed in 1776. This rendition, performed
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by Reinhold Wormuth and conducted by Joseph Pasternak,
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became a beloved patriotic standard, dignified,
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reverent, and unmistakably American. Tonight
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we honor New York. with this historic performance
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of My Country, Tis of Thee. You know, the march
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of the growing nation as the colonies became
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states, as the revolution gave way to new republic,
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as America stepped into the 20th century with
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courage and conviction, the music of our nation
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grew louder, prouder, and more confident. We
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now journey through five songs that carry the
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America from the marching fields of the 1800s
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into the dawn of the modern patriotism. So Song
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6 we dedicate to Maryland. The Stars and Stripes
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Forever by the Sosa Band Tradition. It was recorded
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in 1901 and 1914. Kendall's first regiment band
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of Sosa was in 1901. Maryland is home of Francis
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Scott Key. Also became the home of one of the
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greatest patriotic traditions in American music.
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John Phillips Sosa's The Stars and Stripes Forever.
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Though composed in 1896, its early 20th century
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recordings include the 1901 Kendall's First Regiment
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Band performance, captured the spirit of a nation
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rising to global prominence. It is bold, it is
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triumphant, it is unmistakably American. Tonight
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we honor Maryland with the march Congress declared
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the National March of the United States. Song
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7 we dedicate to Virginia. The Star Spangled
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Banner. This particular recording was done on
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June 28, 1917 by W. Rogers and S. Arnold, G.
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Ferreira and written, of course, by Francis Scott
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Key. Virginia, birthplace of presidents, cradle
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of leadership. and home to the man who penned
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the words that would become our national anthem.
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The June 28, 1917 recording of the Star -Spangled
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Banner carried America through World War I, reminding
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soldiers and citizens alike that the flag still
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waved over the land of the free. Tonight we honor
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Virginia with this historic anthem, a tribute
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to courage under fire and hope in the darkest
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night. we dedicate to Rhode Island and that is
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you're a grand old flag 1917 recording Rhode
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Island may be small in size but its contribution
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to liberty is enormous in 1917 George M Cohen's
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you're a grand old flag swept across the nation
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becoming one of America's most beloved patriotic
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songs it is cheerful it is proud It is a celebration
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of the flag that has led generations through
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war, peace, and progress. Tonight, we honor Rhode
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Island with this spirited salute to Old Glory.
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we dedicate to South Carolina. And that song
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is Onward Christian Soldiers, a 1915 recording.
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South Carolina's story is deeply rooted in faith.
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From its colonial churches to the revolutionary
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fervor, the 1915 recordings of Onward Christian
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Soldiers carried a message of perseverance and
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spiritual courage. It reminded Americans that
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the march toward justice righteousness and freedom
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is not merely political it is spiritual tonight
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we honor south carolina with this hem of the
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steadfast faith Song 10, we dedicate to Colorado.
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And that song is America the Beautiful, the 1927
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recording. Though not one of the original 13
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colonies, Colorado stands as a symbol of the
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America's Western majesty, the mountains that
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inspired Catherine Lee Bates to write America
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the Beautiful. The 1927 recording, building on
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the earlier 1923 performances, became one of
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the most cherished patriotic hymns of the 20th
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century it is reverent it is poetic it is a prayer
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for a nation blessed by god tonight we honor
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the american west with the timeless hymn of beauty
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and grace So we've traveled from the taverns
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of Boston to the mountains of Colorado, from
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the marching fields of the Continental Army to
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the hymns of the 20th century, from protest songs
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to national anthems, from folk humor to Sosa's
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Triumphant Brass. Now, in this final few songs,
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we turn to the songs that speak not only to patriotism,
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but of prayer, unity, and the blessing of god
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upon our nation these final three selections
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bring our journey home we dedicate song 11 to
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north carolina god save our states and this is
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an american patriotic adaptation north carolina's
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contribution to our musical heritage is rooted
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in the earliest days of the republic god saved
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our states is an american adaption of the British
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hymn, God Save the King, rewritten to honor the
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unity of the new American states. It is humble,
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it is earnest, it is a prayer for God's guidance
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over a fragile, newborn nation. Tonight we honor
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North Carolina with this early patriotic hymn,
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a reminder that the founders believed liberty
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could not endure without providence. Long live
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the United States. God save our states. Make
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us victorious, happy and glorious. No tyrants
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over us. God save our states. We'll fear no tyrants
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not, Nor stern oppression's rod, Till time's
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no more. Nay, Union, bless our land, While we
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with heart and hand Our mutual rights defend
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On our free shore. God save our 13 states. Long
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live United States. God save our states. May
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God's victory us. Happy and glorious. No tyrants
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over us. God save our states. We dedicate song
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12 to Delaware, and that song is God Bless America
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by Irving Berlin. The first state holds a special
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place in our national story, and tonight it is
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honored with one of the most beloved patriotic
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songs ever written. Irving Berlin's God Bless
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America became a national prayer during World
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War II. Kate Smith's iconic performance carried
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hope across a nation longing for peace, unity,
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and divine protection. It is more than a song,
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it is a supplication, a reminder that America's
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greatest strength has always been her dependence
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on God. Tonight we honor Delaware with Berlin's
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timeless blessing. We dedicate the last song,
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song 13, to Georgia. God Save Great Washington.
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Now this song was written back in the 1700s,
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but we on Voices for Life put some new music
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to it. So now we arrived at a final tribute,
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and this tribute we're going to give to Georgia.
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Home to courage, conviction. and the spirit of
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perseverance. It is honored tonight with the
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Voices of Life original composition. God Save
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Great Washington is written in the historical
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style of early American hymns, echoing the structure
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of God Save the King, yet transformed into a
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uniquely American prayer. It honors the father
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of our country, his humility, his leadership,
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and his unwavering belief. that liberty is a
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gift entrusted by God. This piece was created
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exclusively for this 250th anniversary special,
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a musical offering to commemorate the Declaration
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of Independence and the faith that carried our
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nation through its earliest trials. Tonight,
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we honor Georgia and the entire nation with this
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original tribute to George Washington. God save
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great Washington, his worth from every tongue
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demands applause. Ye tuneful powers combine,
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and each true Whig now join, whose hearts did
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ne 'er resign the glorious cause. Washington,
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Virginia's warlike son, defend him brave. From
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all the blasts of war, from all the foes afar,
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protect him evermore. Washington saves. 250 years
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ago, the Continental Congress declared independence.
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But long before the ink dried, long before the
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bells rang, long before armies marched, the people
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prayed. They prayed for courage, they prayed
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for wisdom, and they prayed for deliverance.
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And God answered. Tonight, as we celebrate 250
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years of faith and freedom, we remember that
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the story of America is not merely political,
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it is spiritual. It is a story of a people who
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believed that liberty was worth defending, that
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truth was worth proclaiming, and that God was
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worth trusting. So on this July 4th, 2026, on
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this 250th anniversary of the Declaration of
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Independence, may we lift our eyes once more
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to the author of liberty. May he bless our homes,
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may he bless our families, may he bless our states,
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and may he bless the United States of America.
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From all of us at Voices of Life, Happy Independence
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Day, and may God bless America today, tomorrow,
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and for generations to come. As our celebration
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comes to a close, we remember the truth that
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guided the founders, that liberty is a gift from
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God entrusted to every generation. For 250 years,
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America has stood as a beacon of hope, courage,
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and faith. May this anniversary renew our gratitude,
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strengthen our resolve, and inspire us to carry
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the light of freedom forward. From Pastor David
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and all of us at Voices of Life, thank you for
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joining this historic tribute. May God bless
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you, and may God bless the United States of America.