Patriotic songs

This probably would have been more timely about 6 weeks ago, but at least I can plant a seed for the next Independence Day. We have just added a disc to our CD collection titled A Patriot's Songbook. The selections span about 150 years of American music, and range from hymns (Amazing Grace) to folk songs (This Land is Your Land) to popular music (God Bless the USA). The songs and performers represent a wide range of political ideologies, but the common theme throughout the disc is a celebration of America. One important inclusion on this disc is the Armed Forces Medley, which combines the anthems of all 5 branches of the armed forces: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. We have frequently gotten requests for recordings of these anthems for use at various ceremonies and remembrances. There are some toe-tapping, stirring renditions on the disc from Kate Smith, Riders in the Sky, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Basically, this is a nice well-rounded selection of patriot music from great musicians, and should be a useful reference for anyone. It's a shame the producers didn't include Yankee Doodle Dandy, but that's a small quibble.