“This will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave”

Elmer Davis (1890-1958), an author and New York (NY) Times political reporter and editorial writer, wrote in the book But We Were Born Free. (1954):
   
“This will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.”
 
The line (inspired by the last line of the first verse of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the U.S. national anthem) had been used at least twice before—in 1917 and 1953 newspapers. It is often written as “This nation will remain…” and is often cited on Veterans Day, November 11th.
 
     
Wikipedia: The Star-Spangled Banner
Lyrics
O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
 
Wikipedia: Elmer Davis
Elmer Davis (January 13, 1890 – May 18, 1958) was a news reporter, author, the Director of the United States Office of War Information during World War II and a Peabody Award recipient.
(...)
Davis’ best-known work is his company history History of the New York Times. 1851–1921 (New York: The New York Times, 1921).
   
27 July 1917, Philadelphia (PA) Inquirer, “Letters to the Editor,” pg. 10, col. 5:
WHat We Fight For
(...)
This country, like Britain, will continue to be “the land of the free” only so long as it is “the home of the brave.”
Q. E. D.
 
23 January 1953, Greensboro (NC) Daily News, “The Man And The Hour” (editorial), sec. 1, pg. 8, col. 1:
He (President Eisenhower—ed.) knows that America will remain the “land of the free” only so long as it is “the home of the brave.”
 
OCLC WorldCat record
But we were born free.
Author: Elmer Holmes Davis
Publisher: Indianapolis, Bobbs-Merrill [1954]
Edition/Format:   Print book : English : [1st ed.]
 
7 March 1954, The Oregonian (Portland, OR), “Elmer Davis Offers Book Dedicated to Freedoms” by Hortense Binderup,, sec. 3, pg. 10, cols. 1-2:
Long one of our most responsible radio commentators, Elmer Davis speaks boldly in “But We Were Born Free” (Bobbs-Merrill Co, $2.75), a collection of essays in the freedoms guaranteed by our constitution.
(...)
We’ll remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave, and certainly one of the bravest is Elmer Davis. 
 
26 March 1954, Freeport )IL) Journal-Standard, “We Were Born Free” (editorial), pg. 12, cols. 1-2:
Davis, former longtime New York Times political reporter and editorial writer, the wartime head of the office of War Information, is best known for his years as an outstanding news commentator on radio.
(...)
“This will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave….
 
“This republic was not established by cowards; and cowards will not preserve it.”
 
14 October 1954, Pittston (PA) Gazette, “Frances Dorrance on Unconquerable Fortitude,” pg. 10, col. 1:
In conclusion, Miss Dorrance, who served for many years as head of the Wyoming Valley Historical Society and the Pennsylvania Historical Commission, quoted from ELmer Dais’ book “But We Were Born Free”: “This republic was not established by cowards and cowards will not preserve it. This will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.”
 
Twitter
Gaylord Hotels
‏@GaylordHotels
This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it the home of home of the brave. -ElmerDavis #VeteransDay
5:45 PM - 11 Nov 2016