The “Star Spangled Banner,” written Francis Scott Key, was a poem composed during the chaos of the Battle of Ft. McHenry during the War of 1812. Originally entitled “Defence of Ft. McHenry,” Key was inspired by very real, very dangerous bombs that were literally bursting in air, and rockets whose red glare was most perilous. With four original verses put to the tune of an Irish drinking song, the piece became a favorite of American patriots.

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watch’d, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation.
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust;”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

This July 4th, I’ve been struck by the sacrifice of so many who made the freedom of which Francis Scott Key so eloquently wrote possible. We’ll celebrate with family, friends, food and fireworks, but I encourage you to take a moment to acknowledge the fallen. Those who paid the ultimate price in order to give us the liberties we often take for granted. For me, that includes thanking my two brothers, my grandfather, and several friends for their service.

But in my family, it’s also always meant saying thank-you to servicemen and women we come across in our day-to-day lives. Thanking them for putting themselves in harm’s way, so that I don’t have to. For giving up months at a time with family and loved ones so that I may enjoy the right to vote, the right to speak my mind, the right to be free.

You never know just how far a few, small words of gratitude can take someone.

May God bless America!