As our nation celebrates it’s independence on July 4th, I’m celebrating the city I love. Those that live here understand there’s something special about Nashville that makes us proud to live here.

With verse one and four of our National Anthem, here’s a tribute in pictures to the great city of Nashville, Tennessee.

sun setting over 2 Rivers Greenway.

a lone tree on the shore of Percy Priest Lake.

O say can you see, by the dawns early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming,

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight.

fans crowd together for 4th of July fireworks, downtown Nashville.

O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,

steps at one of the entrances to Percy Warner Park.

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

flyover at LP Field.

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation!

hot air balloon floating over middle Tennessee.

Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heav’n rescued land

a church in downtown Nashville.

Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!

statues downtown.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto – “In God is our trust,”

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

*All photos were taken by Ben Wilder*