Songs around my campfire
Well, maybe not around some campfires. These are my favorite patriotic songs and you could sing them around the campfire. Really.
The United States Army Concert Band and the Soldiers’ Chorus
The National Anthem
It was the valiant defense of Fort McHenry by American forces during the British attack on September 13, 1814 that inspired 35-year old, poet-lawyer Francis Scott Key to write the poem which was to become our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The poem was written to match the meter of the English song, “To Anacreon in Heaven.” In 1931 the Congress of The United States of America enacted legislation that made “The Star-Spangled Banner” the official national anthem.
The Stars and Stripes Forever
Composed by John Philip Sousa on Christmas Day, 1896. Official March of the United States of America (US Code, Title 36 Chapter 10).
America the Beautiful
Katharine Lee Bates wrote the original version in 1893. She wrote the 2nd version in 1904. Her final version was written in 1913.
Garry Owen
Garry Owen was the unofficial marching song of the Seventh Calvary. General Custer reportedly heard the song among his Irish troop and liked it. The tune was then played so often the 7th became tied to it.
• Armed Forces Medley • Duty, Honor, Country • The Corps
The United States Navy
The United States Air Force
Air Force Hymn (choral)
The United States Marine Corps
The Marines Hymn
The Marines’ Hymn is the official hymn of the United States Marine Corps. It is the oldest official song in the U.S. Armed Forces. The song has an obscure origin—the words date from the 19th century, but no one knows the author. The music is from the Gendarmes’ Duet from the opera Geneviève de Brabant, which had its début in Paris in 1859. The Marine Corps secured a copyright on the song on August 19, 1919, but it is now in the public domain.
