The Star Spangled Banner

The Star Spangled Banner

“A True Reflection of American Character”

A binding thread in the fabric of the American Spirit is embracing our great nation’s symbols. Our flag, our motto, our national anthem instill a sense of pride and fill us with hope. Some American’s state that our national anthem does not represent the American spirit.

As an American, I support their First Amendment Right to state their case for alternative national anthem. Debating opinions and respecting opposing views are true American virtues. God Bless America, America, and America the Beautiful are patriotic, meaningful, and moving. Maybe, one of them would be a powerful and symbolic national anthem. However, I wonder do these songs reflect the true character of Americans.

In my humble opinion, The Star Spangled Banner symbolically represents the true character of Americans. Endurance, perseverance, pride and hope are foundational American spirit character traits. The following phrases from the Star Spangled Banner reflect these American traits:

Pride

Oh say can we by the dawn’s early light

What so proudly we hailed the twilight’s last gleaming.

Endurance

Whose broad strips and bright start thru the perilous fight,

O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming

And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Perseverance

Gave proof thru the night that our flag was still there.

Hope

Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave

Francis Scott Key wrote these symbolic words at the Battle of Baltimore. He could have penned The Star Spangled Banner during any battles in which Americans have endured and persevered through overwhelming odds. Would these words have been less meaningful if written at The Western Front, Omaha Beach, Inchon Peninsula, Tet Offensive, Iraq or Afghanistan?

On September 11, 2001, the fabric of the American character was attacked. The continental United States was attached for the first time since the War of 1812. Americans were shocked. We cried. We prayed. We did not run.

As fires burned, Americans ran into buildings to save lives. Americans pulled together against overwhelming odds to endure and persevere. The attackers thought Americans would fold.

Terrorists should have known from our national anthem that Americans don’t run. Americans don’t quit. Americans go forward together. By the dawn’s early light on September 12, our flag was still there over the land of the free and home of the brave.

Enduring, persevering, and having hope are American traits not just reserved for our warriors. These character traits are part of the every American that overcomes the odds. Mr. Key’s symbolic words have empowered American’s for generations to overcome economic downturns, personal tragedies and national disasters.

True Americans don’t run and hide in times of trouble. Americans don’t wallow in self-pity. Americans put one foot in front of the other to endure the difficult, persevere the overwhelming because we have hope. We know that by the dawn’s early light our flag will still be there. We know we live in the home of the brave and land of the free.

Scholars can debate if the literal interpretation of The Star Spangled Banner reflects the American spirit. For this American, my national anthem is and will always be “The Star Spangled Banner” true Americans will always endure, persevere, and have hope because our star spangled banner still “waves over the land of the free and home of the brave.”

Respectfully submitted,

Rick Oxley

Note: First Draft: October 2001, Revised: July 2010

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