What does it mean when someone says God Bless America?

By 'blessing' they mean that God will make the U. S. prosper and prevail. Further, it carries with it a sense of having God sanction whatever we do. I think this goes back to a deep-seated, and still very much alive, sense of Manifest Destiny. That is, that the U. S. was God's chosen nation and an arm of God's will.

Where does the phrase God Bless America come from?

In the fall of 1938, as fascism and war threatened Europe, Irving Berlin decided to write a peace song. He recalled an unpublished version of a song that he had set aside in a trunk, took it out and shaped it into a second national anthem, "God Bless America."

When did God Bless America become a phrase?

The phrase “God Bless America” appears in the New York Times for the first time in 1885, uttered by English actor Henry Irving at a speech marking the conclusion of his first tour of the United States: “The last words I say to you, and those words will ever be uttered by me and mine are, God bless America!

Are you supposed to stand for God Bless America?

Admittedly, “God Bless America” is an extremely moving, emotional song, but it's not — and probably never will be — our national anthem. And standing or sitting while it's sung or played should be an individual's choice.

Do you put your hand over your heart for God Bless America?

Military personnel are to salute with the first syllable and hold the salute until the end; civilian men are to remove their hats and hold them to the left shoulder with the hand over the heart, or if no hat to put the right hand over the heart.

House Democrats Sing ‘God Bless America’ While Abortion Rights Protesters Chant In Front Of SCOTUS

Is God Bless America a prayer?

"God Bless America" takes the form of a prayer (with introductory lyrics noting that "as we raise our voices, in a solemn prayer") for God's blessing and peace for the nation ("... stand beside her and guide her through the night...").

Should you remove your hat for God Bless America?

RANT Though many fans and players at Mariners games remove their caps for “God Bless America,” it's not required and people shouldn't be criticized if they don't.

Why is God Bless America not the national anthem?

“It's not a patriotic song,” composer Irving Berlin said in a 1940 interview, “but an expression of gratitude for what this country has done for its citizens, of what home really means.” Today, many Americans consider “God Bless America” an unofficial national anthem of the United States.

Do you salute America the Beautiful?

Indoors, when honoring the US flag, national anthem, and bugle calls, officers and Soldiers stand at attention and face the music or the flag, if one is present. Other songs worthy of respect and honor include “The Army Song,”“Stars and Stripes Forever,” “America the Beautiful,” and “God Bless America.”

Why does God Bless America in 7th inning?

Yankees drop Kate Smith's 'God Bless America' after being told about her racist songs. The strains of Kate Smith's version of "God Bless America" no longer echo throughout Yankee Stadium during the seventh-inning stretch because of hints of racism in the late singer's past.

Who wrote God Bless America and why?

Berlin, born Israel Baline, was 5 years old when his family arrived in the United States, having fled anti-Semitic persecution in Russia. He became a citizen in 1918, the same year he started his military career and wrote “God Bless America.”

What is America's unofficial national anthem?

At Wellesley, "America the Beautiful" is routinely sung during Step Singing, Convocation, and Commencement, and other occasions (and, as called for by informal tradition, student singers bellow SISTERHOOD in place of brotherhood during a key refrain).

Who wrote God Bless America and White Christmas?

As for Irving Berlin, he lived to the ripe old age of 101, passing away in 1989. Though his incredible legacy of songs ranges from the glitzy (“Putting On the Ritz”) to the sentimental (“Always”) to the seasonal (“White Christmas”), “God Bless America” remains one of his most personal achievements.

Is it rude to salute if you're not in the military?

"Civilian personnel, to include civilian guards, are not required to render the hand salute to military personnel or other civilian personnel. "Salutes are not required to be rendered or returned when the senior or subordinate, or both are in civilian attire."

Is it OK for a civilian to salute a veteran?

TLDR – Civilians should face the flag and place their right hand over their heart during the National Anthem. Saluting the flag is a gesture reserved for the military. While civilians can salute soldiers, many veterans consider it inappropriate or awkward.

Why do military remove hats indoors?

They do not wear covers indoors because they follow Naval traditions when it comes to covers and saluting, as does the U.S. Coast Guard. This means that, like Naval personnel, Marines never salute unless wearing a cover, and thus almost all Marines do not salute when they are indoors.

Why was the statue of Kate Smith removed?

The Flyers removed the bronze statue of the singer from outside Xfinity Live! in April and stopped playing her version of Irving Berlin's “God Bless America" at the Wells Fargo Center amid controversy over racist song lyrics from the 1930s that the team said did “not reflect [its] values as an organization.”

Why is taking your hat off respectful?

Hats continued to be tipped or removed when meeting someone to show respect or friendliness -- like the knights lifting a face guard or a military salute. Hats were taken off indoors to show a higher level of civility or respect for what goes on inside. In times of old, hats served their purpose outdoors.

Does every MLB team play God Bless America?

Yet, the Yankees are the only remaining team in baseball to regularly play “God Bless America” during the seventh-inning stretch of their home games. Even after not one but two disgraced singers had to be removed.

Why is it called 7th inning stretch?

It was created in 1910 when President William Howard Taft, on a visit to Pittsburgh, went to a baseball game and stood up to stretch in the seventh inning. The crowd, thinking the chief executive was about to leave, stood up out of respect for the office. The term itself can be traced back no further than 1920.

What is the 7th inning stretch song?

Current practice. In modern baseball, standing up and singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch is a popular tradition. It was first played at a ballpark at a high school in Los Angeles, California in 1934.