A Nudge to the National Anthem

Copyright © 2018

by Ralph F. Couey

The "Star Spangled Banner" has been the officially designated National Anthem of the United States since resolved by Congress in 1931. It was authored by a young lawyer, Francis Scott Key during a night-long bombardment of Fort McHenry.  The barrage was the prelude to an assault on the Port of Baltimore, and an attack on the city itself.  Key and a friend had been detained aboard the British flagship after pleading for the release of an American Doctor on the strength that he had treated British soldiers and sailors as well as Americans.  While aboard, the two Americans were present during the pre-invasion staff conference where they heard the complete plans for the operation, hence the detention.

Rain and fog moved in, but the barrage was conducted despite the lowering weather.  As daylight faded, the last thing Key saw was the small "storm flag" stars and stripes fluttering from the converted ship's mast over the fort.  All night long, the British cannons thundered away.  Estimates of the number of rounds expended run into the thousands.  At times, air bursts allowed brief glimpses of that tattered flag still flying above the fort, signifying that it was still in American hands.  

As dawn approached, the bombardment tapered off.  The smoke from the shelling and the fog began to clear.  In that lull, the soldiers defending the fort (miraculously, none were killed) hoisted the huge ceremonial flag.  When dawn revealed the large flag flying defiantly over the embattled fort.  Key was overcome with emotion and penned the inspired poem.

There are four verses, five if you count the one added by Oliver Wendell Holmes during the Civil War.  The first verse is the one always sung, and the only one anybody really knows.  It is unusual in that it is the only Nation Anthem that ends with a question.  My favorite verse is the fourth one, which goes...

Oh, thus be it ever when free men shall stand

Between their loved homes and the war's desolation.

Blessed with victory and peace may the heaven rescued land

Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

If conquer we must when our cause it is just

Then 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!

This particular verse is better rendered in a quieter, more reflective and thoughtful manner.

Most Americans freely admit to participating in the broad-based ignorance of our own country's history.  There are many -- way too many -- who believe the anthem was written during the Revolutionary War instead of the War of 1812.  And almost none of them will be able to tell you much of anything about that second round against the British between 1812 and 1815.  I think this is important because if you don't understand the context of the crisis that birthed the words to the anthem, you can't really understand the song itself.  For that reason, most Americans sing those words -- however self-consciously -- at sporting events without any real passion or meaning.  There isn't any real ownership of the critical event which occurred that long night, and what might have happened to our nascent country if Baltimore had fallen.  Remember, Washington, the national capitol had already been sacked and burned.  If we fully embrace that knowledge and understand the risk of that event, then the song becomes far more meaningful.  But there's really nothing in the lyrics that could connect to us across the centuries.

So, I was thinking about this over the last couple of days, mainly because I think it's important for Americans to get to know, even embrace the past.  We will much better understand the destination of the present if we know how arduous the journey from the past has been.  I think it would take only a slight tweak to the lyrics that may provide that connection, that sense of ownership that I think is so necessary.  So, how about this?

Oh 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 rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air

Gives proof through the years that our flag is still here.

And the Star-Spangled Banner forever shall wave,

O'er the land of the free

And the home of the brave!

There it is; words that connect past and present, with a promise to the future, all ending, not with a question, but instead with a ringing affirmation.  It is our way of saying to the world, "We have been here, we are now here, and we intend to be here...forever.  It becomes a promise, not just to the world, but to the as yet unborn generations of Americans who will follow.

In terms of years, America is still young compared to most nations.  But we have accomplished so much in so short a time, and there's so much more yet to be done.  If there is one simple core belief that all Americans share in common, it is the statement that nothing is impossible.  All problems have solutions; all goals can be attained.  It is that unfailing belief in ourselves that drives us to perform miracles.  Especially that a nation of immigrants who hale from all parts of this fractious globe can live with each other, work with each other, and perhaps...even love one another.