Americans Need To Learn the Star-Spangled Banner

2016-10-31T13:34:43-04:00

Americans love music - producing it, playing it, listening to it - so it strikes me as strange when I realize how few Americans can sing our National Anthem correctly. Every citizen should learn and sing our anthem and sing it loudly.

We certainly know a lot of songs that are difficult to sing. Many of us learned our high school alma mater and even our college alma mater. So why can’t we learn our National Anthem?

My first assigned in the Army was with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. I ended serving twice with the 82nd. The Division song was (and might still be) “The All-American Soldier,” an easy song to learn, sing and enjoy. It’s a rousing fight song. There are parts that are yelled; “Hey! Hey!” and “Let's Go!” I later served in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division. Their song was “Rendezvous with Destiny,” a hard, slower-paced song to sing. Point is, learning these songs used to be a part of our culture - it made us a stronger team, and created a stronger bond.

I learned about the downfalls of not learning such bond-creating songs when I served with the 3rd Infantry Division in Germany. Their song was “A Dog Face Soldier,” a fun song to sing. My unit was to participate in a joint ceremony with a German unit. We had to learn “A Dog Face Soldier” because at some point, we were told that we would have to sing it. We were also told that the Germans would sing, and they do love to sing. All the company commanders rushed to the PX and purchased records and tapes of “A Dog Face Soldier.” We spent hours trying to teach our soldiers the words and melody. At the designated time, the band struck up the song and we mumbled and fumbled through the words. Then, the Germans sang – loud and clear. They shamed us. It was embarrassing.

I shudder to think how we would have done if we had to sing our National Anthem. Why do we have this problem? The Germans, French and most other nationalities have no problem singing their national anthems. Are they more patriotic than Americans? Or do we have some other, unknown issue, that is keeping us from collectively memorizing our country’s song?

We have only one national anthem. It’s time everyone decides to learn it...and sing it loudly with pride.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Oct 31 at 2016 2:10 PM

2016-10-31T14:10:22-04:00

LTC Monte Anderson, their is a difference between just knowing the words and the National Anthem meaning, truly meaning something to us. Many of us hold those words much closer to our hearts, it really means something special and reminds us of the sacrifices of those braves soles that sacrificed before us and in many cases, alongside us!

It pisses me off to see the arrogance of actors, athletes and performers treat the song with what I label as disrespect to the service of those that paid for the freedom of this great land with their very sacrifices!

Here's a link to the Division Chorus singing All American Soldier

https://youtu.be/5IoCJxoCNqQ

The All-American Soldier

Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises The All-American Soldier · 82nd Airborne All-American Chorus The All-American Chorus 2007 82nd Airborne Hist...

Response by SPC Phil Norton made Oct 31 at 2016 4:52 PM

2016-10-31T16:52:46-04:00

I like this I'm teaching myself guitar and the Star Spangled Banner is the first song that I taught myself now to learn the hundreds of different ways to play it

Response by SFC George Smith made Oct 31 at 2016 7:22 PM

2016-10-31T19:22:24-04:00

its a shame... we used to sing it and say the Pledge ... but that was in the middle ages...

Response by SP6 Frank Ellis made Nov 3 at 2016 5:26 PM

2016-11-03T17:26:50-04:00

I was 3ID and we had to sing the song every day. If you attended any board, you had to sing as well as know the unit history. Rock of the Marne.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2016 1:29 PM

2016-11-07T13:29:14-05:00

What a great post. The other thing that drives me crazy is that. When you see other branches of the military at public venues. They are dress up in the dress uniforms especially the US Marines. The US Army wants to show up in the ACU's. Is it that hard to dress up and show some pride in yourself and the US Army dress uniform.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2016 5:08 AM

2016-11-19T05:08:18-05:00

Reminds me of an occurrence while in around early 90's. A Sergeant in my Platoon wanted me to give him his Oath of Enlistment so I agreed. We did it in the CO's office with CO, Sgt Maj, the Sergeant, myself and unfortunately someone filming. I have the Oath memorized and could recite it in my sleep but add camera and FAIL. It was no big deal but I now know why most use 3 x 5 cards when administering the Oath. I can only imagine the pressure of singing National Anthem before 70,000 fans. It is a beautiful song and most don't listen to the lyrics, but they are important. I am a traditionalist with the Anthem. I think it should be sung note for note as written. No yodeling or personal touches to fit the singer's genre. I get pissed when they jazz it up because it almost seems disrespectful. Just my 2 cents worth.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Nov 19 at 2016 9:42 PM

2016-11-19T21:42:20-05:00

Appreciate your sentiments and agree, LTC Monte Anderson, I like our National Anthem, don't want to change it, and I know the words and sing it with pride at each and every opportunity.

Response by Cpl Joshua Caldwell made Dec 17 at 2016 5:24 PM

2016-12-17T17:24:52-05:00

We dont teach patriotism in schools and that really needs to change. Every kid should need to know our national anthem before they are allowed to graduate.

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Dec 18 at 2016 12:01 PM

2016-12-18T12:01:15-05:00

Bye By miss American pie Drove my chevy to levy to die singing that will happen the day when the internet dies.
Americans are to selfish and self absorbed.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Mar 18 at 2017 2:05 PM

2017-03-18T14:05:08-04:00

Just use a band, 9 out of 10 singers screw it up

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Mar 18 at 2017 6:36 PM

2017-03-18T18:36:35-04:00

Are those guys behind him protesting?

Response by SR Adrian Johnson made Aug 14 at 2017 8:04 PM

2017-08-14T20:04:55-04:00

#COLINKAEPERNICK