Written on Christmas Day, 1896 (bonus points for those seeing the irony), this song has been declared the National March of the United States through act of Congress in 1987. Also known as the Disaster March in theater and the circus, it is a traditional code signaling a life-threatening emergency (more bonus points for you-know-who). This tone is the last stanza of the final chorus (starting with "Let despots remember..."). Here's the lyrics of the entire chorus; feel free to sing along! -- Hurrah for the flag of the free! May it wave as our standard forever, The gem of the land and the sea, The banner of the right. Let despots remember the day When our fathers with mighty endeavor Proclaimed as they marched to the fray That by their might and by their right It waves forever.
