Our national anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner," was written by Francis Scott Key during the British attack on Fort McHenry, in Baltimore, on September 13, 1814.  The "War of 1812" actually lasted from June 19, 1812 until after the Battle of New Orleans, January 8, 1815.  The Battle of Baltimore, during September, 1814, was considered part of the War of 1812.

     The British bombardment, which continued for 25 hours, involved over 1,500 bombshells, many weighing over 200 pounds - and a fleet of 19 British ships.  The bombs (or cannon balls) were not very dependable and often exploded in midair showering Fort McHenry with thousands of pieces of deadly shrapnel -- but also lighting up the huge American flag flying over Fort McHenry.  And by dawn's early light the flag was still there, still flying as the British ships retreated south toward Virginia.  During the morning another oversized American flag, made by Mary Pickersgill and her 13 year old daughter, was raised over Fort McHenry (replacing the tattered, war torn flag which had flown there throughout the battle).

      In the first stanza Key asks the question:  "Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,  What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?"  In the second stanza he gives an answer:

      "On the shore, dimly seen thro' the mist of the deep... Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes... What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep... As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?  Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam... In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:  'Tis the star-spangled banner.  Oh! long may it wave... O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"

      The fourth and final stanza is perhaps the most beautiful:

       "O thus be it ever,  when freemen shall stand... Between their loved home and the war's desolation... Blest with vict'ry and peace,  may the Heav'n rescued land... Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us 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!

      September 13, 2011 will mark the 197th anniversary of the attack on Fort McHenry and the writing of "The Star Spangled Banner" by Key.  This period will also mark the beginning of the professional and college football season, which will also mean that the National Anthem will be sung, in many cases, prior to the start of the games.  Like many Americans I still have vivid, painful memories of Christina Aguilera's rendition of the National Anthem on February 6th, 2011, at the Super Bowl Game in Dallas.  She "jazzed up", screamed, and yodelled the song;  the lyrics were often wrong and unintelligible.  What she did to "The Star Spangled Banner" was a disgrace and a mockery.

      Editorial:

      My point is this -- if you cannot sing "The Star Spangled Banner" in a traditional way, with respect and reverence, then don't embarrass yourself and "slime" our history, and our music with your ignorance and narcissism.  Go "scream" another "tune", or just shut up.

      Christopher Newman                    September 7, 2011