The rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. A powerful rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner. #StarSpangledBanner #NationalAnthem #Patriotic #USA #Americahttps://www.tiktok.com/@619cvld/video/7561929827041709325?utm_campaign=tt4d_open_api&utm_source=awa6z07qoicg5jkx
The rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. A powerful rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner. #StarSpangledBanner #NationalAnthem #Patriotic #USA #Americahttps://www.tiktok.com/@619cvld/video/7561926793708457230?utm_campaign=tt4d_open_api&utm_source=awa6z07qoicg5jkx

"Watching bombs burst in air while I sip my tea... Turns out poetry really *is* inspired by explosions! 🇺🇸 #FortMcHenry #StarSpangledBanner #YouCanCallMeKey"
- Francis Scott Key

Sep 14, 1814 - Battle of Baltimore: The poem Defence of Fort McHenry is written by Francis Scott Key. The poem is later used as the lyrics of The Star-Spangled Banner.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Baltimore

Battle of Baltimore - Wikipedia

Last night my wife watched the final of the #US #Tennis Open. During the recital of the #StarSpangledBanner before the match, #Swiss TV dubbed over the anthem with pop music, which seemed odd. But reading this morning's news, looks like it may have been #maliciouscompliance with instructions from the US Tennis Association not to broadcast the audience reaction to the appearance of #Trump.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/sep/07/usta-trump-censorship-us-open-booing?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

#uspol

The USTA’s censorship of Trump dissent at the US Open is cowardly, hypocritical and un-American

By asking broadcasters not to show any protest against Donald Trump at Sunday’s final, the governing body has caved to fear while contradicting its own history of spectacle

The Guardian

Quote of the day, 4 July: Mother Teresa Sewall

On February 11th, 1878, the community was deprived by death of the edification it had for so many years received from Mother Teresa of Jesus [Juliana Sewall]. This venerable religious, then in her 81st year, had spent sixty-one years in religion, and it was time that the day of rest should finally dawn, for she had borne the heat and burden of a long day on earth.

The reader no doubt remembers the account we gave of Mother Teresa’s early life and entrance into religion. Many years had passed, and many changes taken place since then.

Professed on old Mount Carmel in Charles County [Port Tobacco, Maryland], she had lived with Mother Clare Joseph and Sister M. Aloysia, two of the foundresses, and had spent a few years under the direction of Father Charles Neale. She had, since then, shared all the vicissitudes of her order in Baltimore. […]

She was a near relative of Francis Scott Key, author of The Star-Spangled Banner, and she had strongly imbibed the patriotic spirit of her family. She always impressed it as a duty upon the young religious to pray for the political, social and religious welfare of the country.

The celebration of the centennial anniversary of American Independence was a great joy to her heart, and she took much pleasure at the time in singing The Star-Spangled Banner and in relating little anecdotes of revolutionary days, which she had heard from her father [Clement Sewall], who, as we have seen, had been so intimately connected with General Washington.

Charles Warren Currier

Chapter XXX, Mother Teresa’s death

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4ba3X4XaWw

Currier, C 1890, Carmel in America: a centennial history of the Discalced Carmelites in the United States, J. Murphy, Baltimore.

Featured image: The Washington Family by Edward Savage, 1789–1796. Oil on canvas. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Public domain.

⬦ Reflection Question ⬦
Do you make a point of attending Mass on your country’s national holidays to pray for your nation?
Join the conversation in the comments.

#CarmelInAmerica #CarmelOfBaltimore #GeneralGeorgeWashington #JulianaSewall #MotherTeresaOfJesus #StarSpangledBanner

Star Spangled Banner (Live At Woodstock) by Jimi Hendrix

Listen now on your favorite streaming service. Powered by Songlink/Odesli, an on-demand, customizable smart link service to help you share songs, albums, podcasts and more.

Songlink/Odesli

Nezza Speaks Out on Defying the Dodgers’ Rules by Singing the National Anthem in Spanish: ‘I Think God Entered My Body at That Moment’ (EXCLUSIVE)

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://variety.com/2025/music/news/nezza-interview-talks-star-spangled-banner-spanish-dodgers-1236433756/