This song is described by the Library of Congress as “America’s unofficial national anthem.”  The original version was written by Irving Berlin during the summer of 1918, but he decided it was too solemn for the revue he was working on at the time.  It was laid aside until the fall of 1938, when Berlin decided to rework it as a “peace” song.  Kate Smith sang the revised version on her radio show for Armistice Day, 1938, and the song was an instant hit.  Not long afterwards, Berlin established the God Bless America Fund, which assigned all royalties to the Boy and Girl Scouts of America.

God Bless America (Memory): American Treasures of the Library of Congress

Henderson Library has this song, plus many other Irving Berlin songs, available on CD and videocassette.