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Happy Independence Day to you!

July 4, 2016 By Talya Tate Boerner 14 Comments

O beautiful, for spacious skies

Happy Independence Day, America!

Did you know…?

Thirty-three-year-old Katherine Bates wrote America the Beautiful after hiking to Pike’s Peak. “It was then and there, as I was looking out over the sea-like expanse of fertile country spreading away so far under those ample skies, that the opening lines of the hymn floated into my mind.” (biography.com via Library of Congress)

Bates received $5 for the initial publication of her poem and released all future royalties.

After a visit to Coney Island, church organist, Samuel Ward, wrote a musical composition that would eventually accompany Bates’s poem. He died one year before his music was joined with Bates’s lyrics. His family received no remuneration for the song.

Bates and Ward never met.

I love how such a simple story borne entirely from beauty and inspiration without expectation or greed evokes such raw emotion after all this time. It does for me, anyway.

Happy 4th of July!

Wishing you great food, happy memories, and fun times with friends and family.

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis]…from sea to shining sea — Happy Birthday America #GodBlessAmerica[/tweetthis]

one of my favorite 4th of July clips plus music!
The Sandlot 4th of July

Filed Under: Holiday Tagged With: 4th of July, freedom, Independence Day

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Comments

  1. Colene says

    July 4, 2016 at 8:29 am

    Great post! Happy Independence Day to you!

    Reply
  2. Martha Orlando says

    July 4, 2016 at 8:53 am

    Never knew those facts, Talya. Thanks for sharing and Happy Fourth to you!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 5, 2016 at 10:08 pm

      Thanks Martha and you’re welcome!

      Reply
  3. Barbara thompson says

    July 4, 2016 at 9:24 am

    Interesting history lesson. Thanks for sharing…

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 5, 2016 at 10:08 pm

      Happy 4th Barbara!

      Reply
  4. Jo Ann says

    July 4, 2016 at 9:28 am

    This is such a wonderful blog to begin our 4th of July! I had never seen this clip, which brought tears to my eyes…thank you, Talya!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 5, 2016 at 10:08 pm

      Oh I have to watch this movie every year!

      Reply
  5. Dorothy Johnson says

    July 4, 2016 at 9:56 am

    Still give me chills! Wonderful post. Happy 4th to the Boerners.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 5, 2016 at 10:07 pm

      Happy 4th to you and Terry!

      Reply
  6. Lesa says

    July 4, 2016 at 10:16 am

    Thank you for sharing!!! Happy Independence Day!!!?

    Reply
  7. Ken johnson says

    July 4, 2016 at 11:39 am

    Thank you for this great history lesson Talya.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 5, 2016 at 10:07 pm

      You’re welcome, Ken!

      Reply
  8. Whitney says

    July 5, 2016 at 1:17 am

    Great pictures!! And history lesson!! It was awesome to meet you Sunday!!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      July 5, 2016 at 10:07 pm

      Great to meet you too!!!

      Reply

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Talya Tate Boerner


Hi! I'm Talya. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Baylor graduate. Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE

and

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law


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