My correspondent asked if I would share this information with The Daily Flag readers, and I am happy to do so. Entries for this contest will end on April 13.

The winner will be invited to perform the national anthem at the museum and at the Baltimore Orioles vs. Atlanta Braves game in Baltimore on Flag Day, June 14.

The links below will tell you how to enter the contest.

• Call for Entries: http://americanhistory.si.edu/news/pressrelease.cfm?key=29&newskey=968
• YouTube group: http://www.youtube.com/group/Starspangledbanner
• Contest badge: http://americanhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/submit-your-video.aspx

Long-time Daily Flag readers will know that I am a purist about our National Anthem, and if my advice is worth anything, then this is it: If you want to enter this contest, then sing the Star-Spangled Banner with all your heart, and all your soul. Tell the story like it was the first time anyone was hearing it, and take us back to that morning in Baltimore harbor.

By Robert M. Poole for Smithsonian magazine, November 2008

Long before it flew to the moon, waved over the White House or was folded into tight triangles at Arlington National Cemetery; before it sparked fiery Congressional debates, reached the North Pole or the summit of Mount Everest; before it became a lapel fixture, testified to the Marines’ possession of Iwo Jima, or fluttered over front porches, firetrucks and construction cranes; before it inspired a national anthem or recruiting posters for two world wars, the American ensign was just a flag.

 

For the rest of Robert M. Poole’s splendid story in Smithsonian magazine, go here.

On Wednesday, President George Bush and First Lady Laura Bush dedicated the renovated National Museum of American History. Today is the grand opening to the public, with retired Gen. Colin Powell scheduled to read President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

The original Star-Spangled Banner—the one that flew over Fort McHenry and inspired America’s National Anthem—had long been displayed in the museum, but for the past ten years it has been in the hands of conservationists, who have carefully preserved the fragile flag.

Now it is beautifully displayed again in a specially designed gallery and enclosure that will protect this national treasure.

All photography from the Smithsonian web site.

Style over substance is the topic de jour—looking at the current trend of performers and their renditions. Here is part of The Code for the National Anthem of the United States of America adopted by the National Anthem committee in April of 1942.

… Since the message of the music is greatly heightened by the text, it is of paramount importance that emphasis be placed upon the singing of the National Anthem.

… It is inappropriate to make or use sophisticated "concert" versions of the National Anthem.

…The slighting of note values in the playing or singing of the National Anthem will seriously impair the beauty and effectiveness of both the music and lyric.

The NAC took the National Anthem very seriously and their document contained language to deter any symphonic changes to the music, in either melody or performance. I shudder to think what members of the committee would think of today’s performances that are so far from the original that the audience might have trouble recognizing the melody.

Stars and the National Anthem

Inviting a famous star to perform the National Anthem isn’t new. In 1968 Jose’ Feliciano was invited to sing before Game 5 of the World Series between Detroit and St. Louis. Although his performance was from his heart, the bluesy guitar-accompanied rendition of the National Anthem nearly killed his career.

Changing Attitudes

How attitudes have changed.  Since then many famous personalities have sung the National Anthem before sporting events, with two coming to mind immediately. The first—Roseanne Barr, the second was Whitney Houston. Roseanne’s comedy version is available if you really want to view it, but I advise against it. I want to focus on Whitney’s version for a moment.

After you get the lump our of your throat, let’s move on. I’ll tell you exactly what made Whitney’s version so powerful—she was accompanied by an orchestra. The tempo was set and the audience could sing along with them in our National Anthem. In fact, at the beginning of the video, you can hear the announcer ask the audience to join in singing the anthem.

Now, I want to look at another rendition of the anthem.

Did you try to sing along with Destiny’s Child? If you did, I hope you didn’t hurt yourself. Since they sang a cappella, there are no boundaries requiring their attention. They didn’t have to sing a single note contained in the melody line or hold to any tempo. While it sounded beautiful, it was all about THEIR PERFORMANCE, not the National Anthem. It was almost unrecognizable as the National Anthem, and it was all about THEM.

Today’s society is changing in many ways, and not all of them are good. We will spend millions of dollars preserving old buildings and works of art, but when it comes to following the U.S. Flag Code or the National Anthem protocol, we feel free to do what we want.

The National Anthem protocol is similar to the U.S. Flag Code in that it is a law of honor. Since there aren’t any Flag Code or National Anthem police, we are on our own to obey and respect.

Sec. 301. National anthem

(a) Designation.–The composition consisting of the words and music
known as the Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem.
(b) Conduct During Playing.–During a rendition of the national
anthem–
(1) when the flag is displayed–
(A) all present except those in uniform should stand at
attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart;
(B) men not in uniform should remove their headdress with
their right hand and hold the headdress at the left shoulder,
the hand being over the heart; and
(C) individuals in uniform should give the military salute
at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until
the last note; and

(2) when the flag is not displayed, all present should face
toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag
were displayed.

The questions range from flag ceremonies, to discussions about the changes in the Anthem protocol over the last sixty-six years. With all these exchanges taking place in the comment section, which many readers likely would not see, I wanted spend some time and expand on the previous article.

National Anthem Protocol

The text quoted above was approved by Congress in June 1942 after the National Anthem Committee (NAC) adopted The Code for the National Anthem of the United States of America (pdf link of original document) in April 1942. What I find interesting is the differences in the two documents.

The NAC code included such details as

• the proper keys for performances (A-flat)
• requiring no liberty be taken in either style or substance with the approved version of the National Anthem
• the requirement of an announcement before the anthem for the assembled to join in singing
• mandating the tempo of the anthem, and specified that on the metronome—settings 104bpm for the verses and 96bpm for the chorus.

The Congressional version left out many of the details recommended by the committee and included the phrase—with the right hand over the heart—which was not contained in the NAC document.

A Nation’s Song

One of the biggest differences between the two documents is singing. The law approved by Congress makes no mention of singing the anthem, while the NAC centers around audience participation. To the NAC the National Anthem was our song and correspondingly, we should sing the Star Spangled Banner at every opportunity.

The very nature of the song lends itself to participation. Look at the lyrics that Francis Scott Key penned.

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 rocket’s red glare,
The bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night,
That our flag was still there.
Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave,
O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

 

Keep in mind there are four stanzas to the National Anthem, although only the first is in general knowledge. The NAC included three stanzas in the official version, including 2) and 4) below. There is real significance in the lesser known lyrics. The words are full of images that Key saw that morning as the sun rose and the Star Spangled Banner did yet wave.

2) On the shore dimly seen thro’ the mists 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: O, long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

3) And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

4) O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their lov’d 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 a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause 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!

My concern involves contemporary renditions of the anthem. Controversy surrounds many, while others are hailed as new standards. I like to sing The Star Spangled Banner, and if the song’s performance is such that it is not singable by the audience too, I have a problem. That’s what I want to write about in Part 2—Style over Substance and the National Anthem.

In sales for many years, I haven’t always gotten such a reaction. Many time people weren’t as happy to see me, but out of necessity utilized my products.

Flags are different. Most people have a positive response with positive images coming to mind.

We are introduced to the U.S. flag in grade school (sometimes before) and hearing the stories about it, pride builds inside for this symbol we hold dear.

Take this example from the first stanza of our Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key;

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 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?

Pay close attention to the fifth and sixth lines—that our flag survived this major attack and was still flying was a tremendous victory. What a great story to remember when thinking about the flag. Later in the poem, Key mentions first light and the confusion surrounding what was happening. It’s a real history lesson all its own. In fact, I included the entire text for the Star Spangled Banner with another article. Read it though and tell me it doesn’t make you smile.

Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
‘T is the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

The last half of the second stanza speaks of the rising sun and the beautiful display of the stars and stripes yet waving and the great significance of that moment. Here in the U.S. Flag Code the provision in Section 6(b)

(b) The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.

In honor of Washington’s Birthday, here is the entire poem written that historic day in 1814.

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?

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!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh! 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 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.

For more background and a great history lesson, more information can be found here.

The protocol for the Pledge of Allegiance is laid out in the Flag code Section 4

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag: “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”, should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute. (Italics are mine.)

The Search Begins

Easy enough, but what about protocol for the National Anthem? I began at Google and started searching and discovered a lot of information that couldn’t be verified. I kept digging.

I located one site that “claimed” to quote the U.S. Flag Code as found on the American Legion website. It contained a section that wasn’t in my copy of the U.S. Flag Code, so I went to the American Legion website to see which version of the Flag Code they were using. It turned out they are using the same one I am, and there is no reference to the National Anthem contained in the Flag Code.

I did find a section on the Legion site titled National Anthem and it did reference the U.S. Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Section 171 for the proper protocol. Then to confirm, I went to the U.S. Government site containing the United States Codes and dug into Title 36.

This brought up the next hurdle. There was no Chapter 10. WHAT?

More digging …

Eureka

EUREKA! The research paid off in a big way and here is what I located.

• TITLE 36–PATRIOTIC AND NATIONAL OBSERVANCES, CEREMONIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS
  • SUBTITLE I–PATRIOTIC AND NATIONAL OBSERVANCES AND CEREMONIES
    • PART A–OBSERVANCES AND CEREMONIES
      • CHAPTER 3–NATIONAL ANTHEM, MOTTO, FLORAL EMBLEM, AND MARCH
        • Section 301–National Anthem

Sec. 301. National anthem

(a) Designation.–The composition consisting of the words and music
known as the Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem.
(b) Conduct During Playing.–During a rendition of the national
anthem–
(1) when the flag is displayed–
(A) all present except those in uniform should stand at
attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart;
(B) men not in uniform should remove their headdress with
their right hand and hold the headdress at the left shoulder,
the hand being over the heart; and
(C) individuals in uniform should give the military salute
at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until
the last note; and

(2) when the flag is not displayed, all present should face
toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag
were displayed.

There it is. The elusive National Anthem protocol. Now when you attend that next concert, ball game, or school event, you will know the proper conduct when they begin playing the Star Spangled Banner.

Rest of Chapter 3

Here is the rest of the information in this Chapter of the United States Code.

Sec. 302. National motto

“In God we trust” is the national motto.

Sec. 303. National floral emblem

The flower commonly known as the rose is the national floral emblem.

Sec. 304. National march

The composition by John Philip Sousa entitled “The Stars and Stripes Forever” is the national march.