Born out of a divided America, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" was originally the anthem of the Union soldiers during the Civil War. The music, written in 1856, is derived from an old hymn melody but the lyrics were added in 1861 by New York poet and abolitionist, Julia Ward Howe. An ardent social justice proponent, Howe was inspired to write lyrics that strongly rebuked slavery. The anthem represents a country that, once divided, now stands united and today we honor those who gave their lives

The Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra at Temple Square Strings, and United States Military Academy Band at West Point perform "Battle Hymn of the Republic." The performance took place on July 4, 2015, at the United States Military Academy at West Point, on the Hudson River in New York. #PresidentsDay | The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square