track six: the star spangled banner

... how many times have you heard this song? before athletic events, following olympic competition, during important national ceremonies, 4th of july family gatherings, patriotic themed church services... many of us would love to say "too many," but i can't bring myself to do it. there is something that always gets to me when i hear it... track number six- the star spangled banner.

my earliest memories of our national anthem take place on the james river just outside of newport news, va. my papa and his two brothers would lead the herrmann clan in pledging allegiance to the flag and singing a couple of patriotic songs as a kick-off to the 4th of july family reunion. i wasn't old enough to know all the words, but i could sure hum that tune. i wanted to be involved in a song that made some beam with pride and others shed a steady flow of tears... the national anthem meant something to them... i wanted it to mean something to me.

from my first varsity high school game onward, the national anthem has been included in my pregame ritual. i didn't always understand why the national anthem was played when the only competitors were americans... we were getting ready to go out and "slaughter" our fellow countrymen... in the name of sport and good fun. that didn't seem respectful or patriotic to me... at all!

shortly after 9/11, the national anthem became real to me. it became an audible reminder that my fight as an american existed beyond the playing field... it was a connection. it was with the soldiers fighting overseas... it was with the vets who removed their hats and saluted the flag years after retiring from active service... it was with the people mouthing the words and showing pride in their country... it was surreal to finally understand the symbolic playing of the national anthem before any event.

its a perspective of perseverance and trust. when francis scott key composed this hymn, he did so out of gratitude and relief, praise and amazement. the final verse *yes, there are a lot of verses* says, "o, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand/ between their loved homes and the war's desolation/ blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land/ praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation! 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!" pretty cool, huh?

blessed with victory and peace may this land praise the Power that made us so/ if we have reason to go and fight (either for our own protection, or that of a weaker ally) let us go forward claiming God as our trust... we are forever the land of the free and the home of the brave.

i believe the star spangled banner has become a trite and commonplace ornament in today's society... i believe every american should consider themselves blessed when remembering their nationality- regardless of politics... i believe the founding fathers and historical giants who created this nation to be "the land of the free and the home of the brave" did not place limitations on those to whom it applied. our national anthem plays on not to signal the first pitch but to remind us of the greater things in life... the things that really matter.

the clearly evident and unseen element of the star spangled banner: in God is our trust. the national anthem means something to me. it means a lot to me...