Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-07

"a tional inspiration. Here the patriotic sons OF me
IA early Republic crushed one of the most ambitious
. invasions aimed against our nation Here
during the rage of combat was born the swelling
= anthem of American patriotism.
"a 1t is wholly fitting that Flag Day should De
Ea chosen for this commemoration and rededicatlon
"a because hymn of patriotism is an apostrophe
"a to the flag love- YEA it is apostrophe ana IN
"a vocation as well, born of patriotic and poetic
- soul In the travail of a sublimely heroic night
80
"a If one, forgetting the music will ponder that
ia poem of battle and victory and thanksgiving, !
:. think he will comprehend the elements that have
Q made it great-great song of patriotism and
exaltaton, great merely as piece of poetical por
p raiture The first stanza tells the anxiety with
Pa which, after the bombardment had ceased the
"a author peered through the mists of dawn and
"a asked the one question whose answer would tell
"a the fateful story:
can you see by the daw En early Y.b light
"a cleaning, =
"a In the second he glimpses the banner, and
"a bursts into song of rejoicing Ike third stanza
"a is defiance of the oppressor; and then, in the
"a fourth and last stanza find the note Of thanks
- giving, the prayer that the victory may be JUST
=. fed in the conduct Of a race of freemen:
Pa O. thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
IA Between their lov'd the desolation.
"a That was the poets prayer We may fairly
"a claim, in pride for the deeds of our fathers,
"a sons brothers, the prayer has been granted.
- The faith has been kept
=, 1t is the hope of every American heart today
- that it will continue to be kept. The intervening
century has brought country power and high
place. 1t has cast upon us heavy burdens of re-
"a sponsibility making share the difficult problems
- of world in the turmoil of time. We need
p all the inspiration faith which fired his glow
Pa ing soul of patriotism No generation of men
~ has ever into the world to find its path
IA smoothed, or to find its problems solved for it in
"a advance. Solution is the fit price pay for our
- great Inheritance Of liberty and opportunity
= The outstanding and the reassuring thought of
p today is the supreme exaltation of Key, in the
"a hour of great trial, to reveal the soul of pa
Pa triot in the night Of surprising anxiety and de-
IA votion to country
n No concern for self narrowed his thought. No
"a glorifcation of the individual marred his vision
na No pursuit of fame set his soul abiaze. No per-
n sonal advantage hindered his pen. His country
- and his concern for its safety were combined in
p his a-consuming thought; the nation was the
p great, uplifting and exating love. In this i'm
"a passoned, anxious, sefsacrcing, exalting and
pa ultng love of country, ranscending all else Key
IA reached the sublime heights, and wrote the poetic
en revelation of an American soul afame
- An American citizenship of the high and simple
- faith of Francis Scott Key, afame for defense,
and no less devoted in meeting the problems of
p peace will add to the luster of the banner he
p proudly acclaimed. Every glitterfng star Is fixed,
"a every worthwhile procession is the more impress
IA sive for it's bearing, every passion for country is
"a refined by its unfolding. On ships of mercy or
"a vessels of war, in the armed camp at the
~ rials Of peace, in rejoicing procession flying
- from the staff the simple temples of the
p schooling youth of Acknowledgements it peases
= the eye, and treasures the heart and strs the
p SOUL until we sing in all confidence with the poet
"a patriot
"a
n The Star, spangIed Banner in triumph shall wave
free and he %