Happy Canada Day!

To all our fine neighbors to the North! (If I’m not too late.)

From out of the distant past, here’s Edward Johnson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbaiOteIpR0

And just to show there’s no hard feelings…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iCjzwg0Z4Y

Have a wonderful day!

I get on an amateur radio “net” based across the St Lawrence River. I made sure I included a “Happy Canada Day” in my contribution this morning.

Having spent my early years in the Detroit area, the joint celebration there reminded us of the holiday.

On a humorous note, my daughter attended college in Virginia for a couple of years. When they played “O Canada” at sporting events, as might be appropriate, she would sing along. Her friends were amazed that she knew the song. When you can see Canada from your high school, it’s kind of natural.

“O Canada” is a much easier song to sing than “The Star-Spangled Banner”.

We always fly Maple Leaf flags on the engine when operating during the Canada Day weekend.

http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=10244

Another sound Old Timers would recall.

A set of Flags fluttering sharply overhead on an A Unit.

Back in the day some Flag Brackets were below the Cab WIndows.

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxAJNyRoOKE/Vfsk1zxfy6I/AAAAAAAAEAQ/7SY4TAGQIdQ/s1600/CNR%2B9401%2B.png

Here they were in the way of Train Order Delivery Device, Engineer’s
and Fireman’s Vison.

Trainman usually sat on Centre Seat on an A.

The Shits if it was worn and loose on it’s Pedestal with Arm Rests gone.

Thank You.

It might have been easier if they’d kept the original arrangement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydAIdVKv84g

Then again, nobody said life’s supposed to be easy!

Great lookin’ machine Dude, my compliments!

20 Km sign for railway or roadway?

Road, our half mile long driveway runs beside the track. I think that sign got knocked down by a snowplow a few winters ago and we never did replace it.

We’re limited to 10 mph and only have half a mile of track to run back and forth on, three ‘round trips’ usually takes 20 or 25 minutes.

We cut down all the brush north of the track over the past few years, it’s way more open with better sightlines now.

Thanks for the good wishes on Canada Day but don’t you think that this would be a great national anthem for the USA?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rcvo4U33_L4

I’d be surprised if it’s not the state song of Hawaii!

Honestly, I prefer the brassy TV version of the theme to the Venture’s version. One of the greatest TV themes in history!

As I recall, the US national anthem is based on an old drinking song…

There are those who think it should be “America the Beautiful” (Oh, beautiful for spacious skies…)

There is some debate whether the USA national anthem has 4 or 5 verses, But Holmes wrote 5th, How many even know there are more than one?

Here link for first 4 verses. It certainly would surprize almost all attendes to a sporting event if singer started with verse 2.

Complete version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” showing spelling and punctuation from Francis Scott Key’s manuscript in the Maryland Historical Society collection

Here is link to 5th verse. After 5th is sung men’s choir sings all verses. Total of 5+ minutes.

Bay Area Artists Sing the Little-Known Fifth Verse of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ | KQED Arts - YouTube

When our land is illum’d with Liberty’s smile,
If a foe from within strike a blow at her glory,
Down, down, with the traitor that dares to defile
The flag of her stars and the page of her story!
By the millions unchain’d who our birthright have gained
We will keep her bright blazon forever unstained!
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
While the land of the free is the home of the brave.

EDIT: Just found out 5th verse not written by Key. Poet Oliver Wendal Holmes wrote 5th verse some 50 -60 years later

News Flash: Super Bowl LVII:

Justin Bieber and Britney Spears sing all five verses of the American national anthem and 40,000 fans rushed the gates of Lambeau field. They were trying to escape. Some casualties noted.