history – Page 5 – SemperVerus

US Military Hymns

Each US military branch has a dedicated hymn to inspire singers to lift their voices in praise to God, honoring him as the creator of life and liberty:

The US Air Force Hymn (Lord, Guard and Guide the Men Who Fly)
The US Army Hymn (Eternal Father, Hear Our Prayer)
The US Coast Guard Hymn (Ruler of Land and Sea)
The US Marine Corps Hymn (Serving for Thee)
The US Navy Hymn (Eternal Father, Strong to Save)
The US Space Force Hymn (Creator of the Universe).

[ Read the SemperVerus article, US Military Academy Prayers ]

Composed in 2020, the Space Force Hymn (Wikipedia) is the first military hymn written in 105 years. Its author, former Air Force Captain James F. Linzey, who retired as a chaplain from the Army, is the only living composer of a military hymn.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Spiritual Fitness in the USA Military ]

Each hymn’s stanzas are shown below, as is the NATO Hymn enhanced with sacred lyrics by Capt. Linzey. Originally written by Captain André Reichling of the Luxembourg Military Band in 1989 to commemorate NATO’s 40th anniversary, the hymn was officially adopted as an instrumental anthem in 2018. Now, Capt. Linzey’s sacred lyrics draw on Psalm 8 and George Frideric Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus, bringing a spiritual dimension to NATO’s official music. Capt. Linzey says this rendition of the hymn and imagery are not in any way endorsed by NATO, nor are they official publications of NATO.

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of SPIRITUAL FITNESS ]

250th Anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord for American Independence

Saturday, April 19, 2025, was the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord of Wednesday, April 19, 1775, the first major military campaign of the American Revolutionary War.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Important US Dates to Commemorate ]

The English government had ordered its British military forces to seize the American civilian colonists’ weapons and gunpowder being stored in Concord, Massachusetts. However, the colonists’ resolute resistance resulted in an American victory and an outpouring of support for liberty and independence.

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of SELF-DEFENSE ]

The battles were fought on the American side primarily by privately armed militias and individuals bearing their personal firearms, an act so indelibly impressed upon the colonists’ consciousness that, 16 years later, after the war was won and the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified December 15, 1791, the individual right to keep and bear arms (today known as The Second Amendment) was definitively prioritized and protected from American government infringement; esteemed enough to be considered one of the top two fundamental and vital civil rights on which to build the great American nation.

How notoriously ironic that 250 years ago, Massachusetts as a colony preeminently prioritized the unalienable civil right to keep and bear arms, with its citizens making the ultimate sacrifice to protect that right, but today it is one of the worst states to infringe on that right!

Life Lessons to Learn From a Space Capsule Failure

Law Enforcement Officer Badge How do you handle unexpected and prolonged difficulties in your life? With frustration? Anger? Despair? Doubting God’s oversight and sovereignty in your situation?

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of SPIRITUAL FITNESS ]

Instead, take the SemperVerus way: Stay True to what is right and Stay True to your aim, trusting God with all your heart.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Spiritual Fitness: Top 12 Acts for a Christian ]

What was scheduled to be an 8-day test flight of the Boeing Starliner capsule for US astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunni Williams turned into a 286-day test of endurance and conviction during an unexpected life-limiting stay in space aboard the International Space Station due to the capsule’s technical problems including helium leaks in its propulsion system and the failure of several reaction control system thrusters.

Wilmore, a devout Christian, leaned on his faith throughout the extended mission. He described his spiritual connection as “vital to existence,” emphasizing that knowing God was in control sustained him during the 9-month ordeal.

Medals of Honor and Valor

When you live the SemperVerus life, you decide to Stay True to what is right and Stay True to your aim in every decision you make.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Every Small Decision Leads to Winning or Losing in Spiritual Warfare ]

When you wear our SemperVerus Brotherhood/Sisterhood wristband, it’s a helpful constant reminder that you pledge to stay true to what is right (1 Tim. 4:16) by daily choosing to live led by (Rom. 8:14), filled with (Eph. 5:18), walking by (Gal. 5:16), and in step with (Gal. 5:25) the Holy Spirit, exhibiting 13 virtues in your behavior; one of which is acting valorously (with courage).

[ Read the SemperVerus article, The Door of Leadership Swings on the Hinge of Character ]

Conducting yourself with bravery is an element of strong character, and it’s part of the third element of the five SemperVerus components—BE—which emphasizes the importance of prioritizing integrity, honesty, and general uprightness in your life. It reads: