Wishing all readers in the United States of America a very happy 4th of July as we celebrate our nation's 237th Independence Day! Sharing some photos with you, taken on the 4th of July of 2012. Our home looks different this year but you will get to see that later. Don't forget to watch the 1940 video below with Kate Smith singing: GOD BLESS AMERICA
Flying the Georgia State flag and the United States flag in front of our home.
Happy 4th of July!
The link below will take you to a video showing the very first public singing of 'GOD BLESS AMERICA'. But before you watch, you should also know the story of the song.
The song was originally written by Irving Berlin in 1918 while he served in the U.S. Army at Camp Upton in Yaphank, New York. It was later rewritten in 1938 as a peace song with 'some alterations to reflect the different state of the world' during a time when Nazi Germany was threatening war with Europe.
'God Bless America' was originally introduced and performed live on Armistice Day, November 11, 1938 by Kate Smith on her radio program. It became an immediate hit resulting in popular demand for the sheet music. Afterwards, Berlin established the God Bless America Fund where proceeds from royalties were donated to the Boy and Girl Scouts of America. Read more about it: Kate Smith and her God Bless America, Land That I Love and also about her Awards received as she was honored by every President. Read more here: Kate Smith, just scroll down...
NOW HERE IS HOW 'GOD BLESS AMERICA' SHOULD BE SUNG!
Related links:
{4th of July Speech given by my husband Pieter} | previous post by me
{Happy 236th Birthday USA!} | previous post by me
{The Dutch 1st to Salute to the Flag of The United States in 1776} | previous post by me
{Dutch - American Heritage Day: November 16 since 1991} | previous post by me about official Proclamation by President George Bush
{Happy 236th Birthday USA!} | previous post by me
{The Dutch 1st to Salute to the Flag of The United States in 1776} | previous post by me
{Dutch - American Heritage Day: November 16 since 1991} | previous post by me about official Proclamation by President George Bush
Beautiful song indeed and in the voice of a amazing Singer. Thank you for sharing honey. Have a great Fourth weekend ahead.
ReplyDeleteFABBY
Dearest Fabby,
DeleteThanks for your wishes; hope the rain will stop. Looks more like tropical Indonesia with such heavy rain and thunderstorms. We need to get outdoors for the 4th of July events! Kate Smith for sure was a singer with some volume. Great song by Irving Berlin!
Hugs,
Mariette
bellissima voce. Senza parole.
ReplyDeleteGrazie mille Daniella e Happy 4th of July!
DeleteMariette
Hola Mariette, te ha quedado una casa preciosa. Te deseo un feliz 4 de Julio. Preciosa canción. Feliz semana. Besos.
ReplyDeleteQuerida Enma,
DeleteGracias por los buenos deseos para el 4 de julio. Buen acompañante de la cantante. Y nuestra casa les presento pronto en el nuevo color y con nuevo techo.
Besos,
Mariette
happy independence day!
ReplyDeleteYou too Theresa a very Happy Independence day!
DeleteHugs,
Mariette
Happy 4th of July to you, Mariette.
ReplyDeleteDearest Sarah,
DeleteThe very same to you and your loved ones!
Hugs,
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeleteviel Freude wünscht dir
Elisabeth
Liebe Elisabeth,
DeleteJa wir hoffen nur das das Wetter auch mitmacht.
Seid gestern ist hin und ab die Internet-Verbindung ab...
Lieber Gruss,
Mariette
Happy 4th July, dearest Mariette!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the day!
love and hugs
Claudia
Dearest Claudia,
DeleteThanks! We give it a try and the rest depends on the weather...
I even have a hard time now for replying as the Internet connection is on/off...
Hugs,
Mariette
Mariette, ich wünsche dir und deinem lieben Mann ebenfalls
ReplyDeleteeinen schönen Tag. Sicher wird viel geboten!
Einen schönen Mittwoch wünscht Dir
Irmi
Liebe Irmi,
DeleteJa schönes Feuerwerk wenn die Natur auch mitarbeiten will... Wenn es wieder so schlimm donnert und regnet wie gestern geht es nicht natürlich.
Ganz lieber Gruss,
Mariette
Lieve Mariette,
ReplyDeleteGod Bless America!!!
En bij jullie gaan vast en zeker de vlaggen weer wapperen...
gelukkige onafhankelijksdag gewenst en droog weer daarbij is ook niet onbelangrijk!!!
Hier vandaag grijs en nat, maar daarna wordt het weer zomers, kunnen we op 4 july met wat geluk in de avond nog wat buiten zitten met de familie op onze 45 jarige trouwdag.
Lieve groet en maak er een fijne en feestelijke dag van!!!
Ger
Lieve Ger,
DeleteDie vlaggen worden morgenvroeg weer gehangen ja. Ja, dat grijze en nat is hier elke dag en het zijn erg donkere agen ook! Als we 's middags thee drinken is het al bijna donker door het onweer en de regen. Het zou jammer zijn als het vuurwerk en alles daarmee in het water valt dit jaar...
Jullie ook een hele fijne dag samen! Ik had het op mijn kalender genoteerd. Hoe de tijd toch vliegt; 1968 en zó is het 2013... Maar het belangrijkste is dat jullie er nog sámen zijn!!! Een dikke knuffel.
Mariette
Mariette,buon 4 luglio!Baci,Rosetta
ReplyDeleteCara Rosetta,
DeleteGrazie per gli auguri!
Baci,
Mariette
Een fijne dag en wat een mooi lied, de eerste "God bless America". Zo hoort het gezongen worden inderdaad.
ReplyDeleteMarianne
Beste Marianne,
DeleteJa, dat was wel een volumineuze stem om dit zo mooi te zingen. Maar we hebben elk jaar wel weer een of andere goeie zangeres die het weer brengt. En af en toe wordt het ook 'verminkt' zoals wij het noemen...
Liefs,
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeleteKate Smith hatte eine wunderbare Stimme und dieses Lied ist bewegend. Danke für diese kleine Live-Vorführung. Ich wünsche euch einen schönen 4. Juli.
Beste Grüße,
Johanna
Liebe Marianne,
DeleteDanke für deine guten Wünsche und wir brauchen sie für das Wetter. Noch nie so einen nassen Sommer gesehen mit soviel schweres Gewitter und Regen; jeden Nachmittag geht es los und ist es sehr früh dunkel. Schade um diese schöne Zeit vom Jahr. Unkraut wächst auch sehr...
Ja die Kate Smith war eine gute Sängerin. Wir haben noch manche die es genauso gut bringen können.
Lieber Gruss,
Mariette
Happy Independence Day, dear Mariette!
ReplyDeleteHugs from the Alps :)
Dearest Anna,
DeleteThanks a lot, we need to pray for the rain to stop...
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest Mariette,
DeleteI do hope the rain has stopped and I'm sending you sunny thoughts! :)
Thank you for your sweet-as-ever comment! :) Oleanders are not as lush here as they are on the Mediterranean coasts, but still, the closeness gives them an (almost) ideal climate.
Zoe indeed has such a sweet, happy way to sleep :) And she does enjoy the sun, my little Greek girl! :) Big hugs from the two of us!
Dearest Anna,
DeleteThanks from ALL of us!
Fijne dag voor jullie, Mariette!
ReplyDeleteLieve groeten,
Nicole
Beste Nicole,
DeleteJa, dank je wel, het is hier bijna 'kikkerland' maar dan wel in de tropische zin van het woord. Regen, regen en meer regen.
Liefs,
Mariette
Happy 4th of July!!! Many blessings to you and Pieter and the furbabies on this wonderful celebration of Independence. Hugs and blessings, C. (HHL)
ReplyDeleteDearest Celia,
DeleteThanks for your well wishes! We hope it will be a sunny day.
Hugs,
Mariette
I hope all my Americian friends had a great 4th July................and a safe one too...............
ReplyDeleteDearest Jo-Anne,
DeleteIndeed, let's hope it will be a great and safe 4th of July for all Americans!
Hugs,
Mariette
Wishing you and your husband a wonderful 4th of July!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
~Wendy
Dearest Wendy,
DeleteLikewise also to you and your loved ones a very Happy 4th of July. Hope we can escape some heave rain; you too are getting way too much rain...
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest Mariette ,
ReplyDeleteHappy 4th of July !All the people must be living in peace without wars !
Enjoy this happy day !
Olympia
Dearest Olympia,
DeleteMay we be able to celebrate our Freedom and Independence for many more years to come!
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteHappy Independence day to you and Pieter and to all our friends over there.
Sending hugs
Carolyn
Dearest Carolyn,
DeleteThank you and at the moment it is dry; let's hope it remains that way throughout the day... We have had rain and thunder enough last night.
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteHappy 4th of July "God bless America' to you and Pieter has wonderful day!
Hugs and love to both always!
Michiko
Dearest Michiko,
DeleteThanks for your wishes for a Happy 4th of July!
Hugs,
Mariette
Thank you for the July 4th greeting and the lovely post!!! Have a beautiful day!
ReplyDeleteHappy 4th of July to you and your loved ones; two- and four-legged!
DeleteHugs,
Mariette
Good Afternoon Mariette, I am listening to Kate Smith singing, as I write this note to you.... I am not American, but this is a really moving song and Kate sings it beautifully.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful 4th July, I hope there is lots of eating and many fireworks.
Best Wishes to you,
Daphne
Dearest Daphne,
DeleteThanks, so far this morning is promising as the sun is even out! Let's wait and see how the afternoon develops and the evening.
Hugs,
Mariette
Have a Happy Independence Day! Thanks for a lovely post.
ReplyDeleteDearest Suzi,
DeleteThank you, hope yours was a happy one too. We got thunder with rain again from 1:00 PM on...
Hugs,
Mariette
Happy Independence Day!
ReplyDeleteMarina from Spain
Dearest Marina,
DeleteThank you! At least till noon it was lovely.
Hugs,
Mariette
A beautiful song, Mariette, and your house looks lovely with the two flags flying proudly! God Bless America and Happy Independence Day! xoxo
ReplyDeleteDearest Karen,
DeleteThank you and hope you had a Happy Independence Day as well. About an hour ago I took our two wet flags inside the front porch. Heavy rain from 1:00 PM on...
Hugs,
Mariette
Conosco l'importanza per il tuo magnifico Paese che ha questa festività, come per il giorno del Ringraziamento. Sono giornate DA FESTEGGIARE E MAI DIMENTICARE, tradizioni da portare avanti per le generazioni future. Auguri Mariette a te e alla tua famiglia. Paola
ReplyDeleteCara Paola,
DeleteGrazie e davvero sono giornate de bei tradizioni da portare avanti.
Baci,
Mariette
I enjoyed learning the story of the song! I wish you a wonderful holiday. It has been raining all day today, so I don't think there will be fireworks. My kitties are happy about that :-)
ReplyDeleteDearest Tamago,
DeleteWe had rain from 1:00 PM till about 7:00 PM. It is quiet now but I have no idea if they did go ahead with the usual firework. We stay home anyway; had lunch at a friend's place on the river with a big group.
A quiet day and our kitties are also safe at home with us.
Hugs,
Mariette
Beautiful post! Your house is gorgeous. Like the song too.
ReplyDeleteDearest Eva,
DeleteThanks for your visit. That song is incredible.
Hugs,
Mariette