All-Star game

Because of my work schedule and my age I just can't stay up and watch the ball game even though I really want to see the national League win one. But really this post isn't about the game but the National Anthem, or rather what it means and how it is sung.

I doubt that little fat girl from Glee has any clue what happened the night Francis Scott Key was on that British War ship. He was there to obtain the freedom of captured Americans. The British pointed out the flag over the American fort and told Mr. Key that they were about to start a bombardment against the fort. "Now if that flag is still there in the morning you and the prisoners can go free. If not, you will become one of our prisoners and will be taken back to England"

Well the flotilla of British Warships opened fire on that little fort and shelled that place all night long. Mr. Key kept watch and in the darkness he couldn't tell if the flag was still there until a bomb burst over where the flag flew. In the morning after the British quit their bombardment, Francis Scott Key looked out at the flag and it was, still flying. torn, ragged, and burned but it was still there.

Freedom was won for the prisoners.

When they went into the fort, Mr. key was curious to how that flag had managed to not be knocked down. What he saw gave him the answer and testified to the bravery of the men there and their dedication to the new republic. As one man holding the flag was killed by a British shell, another would run over to hold the flag pole to keep the flag flying high. Francis Scott Key saw a stack of American bodies, each man with their hand on that flag.

Now when that song is sung it should be sung as a testament to those men and this country. This nonsense of putting a fancy twist on the last note is a call to self glory and disrespectful to what happened during that battle. There is nothing wrong (and everything right) with singing that song as written,

I fought my war for this country gladly and as a volunteer when people were running to Canada and protesting and shaming the men and women in the Armed Forces. Once I learned what that song means, I would stand proud and salute the flag when ever I heard it played.

I firmly believe if that fat little girl and others like her that want to personalize that song had to don a military uniform and wear it into battle for this country and when all seemed lost, hearing that song played and knowing that the battle is won, would never again even think about singing the Star Spangled Banner is such a way as was done to open the All-Star game.