"And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air" this line from the Star Spangled Banner was written by Francis Scott Key after witnessing a British attack on Fort McHenry in 1814. It might have been written any Fourth of July in America, when fireworks are part of the celebration of our nation's birthday.

The small fort was bombarded by the guns of the Royal Navy during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. Key had watched the big naval guns fire through the night from onboard a British ship where he was held captive. He did not know whether his fellow Americans had survived the night. Then at dawn, he could see a large American flag "was still there."

Powerful stuff. The future of the United States was not yet sure, certainly not in British eyes, when Key wrote these lines. Yet the Stars and Stripes have prevailed in the spirit of our national anthem. That's something to think about as another barrage of bottle rockets scream over the roof tops, Roman candles light up the night and that deep base boom ripples out from the Mandan rodeo grounds and the Capitol grounds on the Fourth of July. Think about the Stars and Stripes and how it has waved in battle and in peace over our democratic nation, "o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."

Patriotism needs no apology here. The people of this country, now 233 years old, have always endeavored to uphold the founding principle of the United States of America. There have been times of struggle, difficult challenges and remarkable success. Being human, there have been mistakes. And for those we atone in accordance with our understanding.

This Fourth of July, American soldiers proudly shoulder the American flag amidst firefights and outposts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The countries of the world today, including the United States, barely resemble the roster of nations in 1812. Politics were different. Economics were different. Technology was different. But those close-held beliefs in democracy, upheld by the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution, remain the same.

On Fourth of July 2009, take a moment to honor the flag. To recall the work of the Founding Fathers, so careful in crafting this nation of ideas. To continue with your fellow citizens the civil debate that has fine tuned what is America today. Make no mistake, this is the spirit of a great nation. Now, yesterday and 233 years ago.