Frederick Dempsey Post 266, American Legion, Neptune, NJ. Ocean Grove Independence Day parade. Paul Goldfinger photo. Click to enlarge. July 6, 2019.
We missed the July 4 parade in 2020, but there will be an Independence Day parade in Ocean Grove on Saturday July 3, from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM thanks to the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association.
TANGLEWOOD FESTIVAL CHORUS from their album Celebrate America: Songs For the 4th of July.
The music for “America the Beautiful” was composed by Samuel A. Ward, organist at the Grace Episcopal Church in Newark NJ. He composed the melody in 1882 while on a ferry ride from Coney Island to NYC. He borrowed the cuff of someone’s shirt to write on before he forgot. It wasn’t until 1910 that Ward’s tune was combined with words by Katherine Lee Bates. The two never met.
The American Legion is composed of U.S. war veterans and the organization celebrated its 100th birthday in 2019.
During the WWII era, there was a surge in sentimental, patriotic songs. Many were performed by popular 1940’s big bands. This is the Benny Goodman Orchestra with Peggy Lee. The song is “We’ll Meet Again.”