This week the JV choir students visited the American Freedom Museum and participated in a lesson about the history of The Star Spangled Banner, our national anthem. The students expressed their thoughts on the recent controversy concerning this very important song. Following that, they explored the meanings of each of the four verses and were taught about the history of when the song was written and the circumstances surrounding that historic event. One question that was posed to the students was, “Does it still matter that we are the land of the free and the home of the brave?” The choir students were encouraged to seriously consider the meaning of the song and its place in our country’s history.

Following the lesson, the students made their way to the lobby of the museum to sing The Star Spangled Banner. As they finished, two Vietnam War veterans, one from the Marines and the other from the Air Force were exiting the museum after touring it themselves. One of the gentlemen asked if he could speak to the students. He told the story of when he was about to be deployed overseas and his 5^th grade sister gave him a small Gideon Bible to take with him. She made him promise to read it every day.  Not only did he read it himself, but eventually read it to his platoon brothers every day as well. Many of his friends did not come home from the war. Not many years ago, he arranged to reunite with several of his friends with whom he served. At breakfast that morning, as was his custom, he began reading from that same little, ragged Gideon Bible, still with the photograph of his little sister in it.  His Marine brothers began to speak about the impact he had had on them by doing that while they were at war. One of the men told him that he had given his life to Christ from hearing from the Word every day. Another said that he completely turned his life over to Christ because of it.  This one man’s promise to his little sister has impacted the world for Christ!

When we were done and were leaving, each student had a very tangible example of why we stand and honor not only the flag during the singing of the national anthem, but we honor men like this Marine who sacrificed much and in being faithful to God’s Word, led others to Christ.