Memorial Day Means So Much More than Racing ~ 2017
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Arlington National Cemetery
This
saga is posted annually on Race Fans Forever, as a favor to the United States
of America, and you, our readers…
I bid you welcome gentle
readers, to one of the most important tales you might ever hear, and I mean
that sincerely. Some of you know that I have been a stickler for proper
presentation of The Star Spangled Banner, our National Anthem, for years on
end. Perhaps that comes from being a child throughout the Second World War and
being raised in a time when patriotism was the norm, not an anomaly. On
Memorial Day weekend, the Anthem takes on an even more special meaning, as we
pause to honor our war dead… from every war… those that made the supreme
sacrifice so that our flag might always continue to wave, o'er the land of the
free and the home of the brave.
Yes, Memorial Day weekend brings
racing; many years it brings great and astounding racing at the Indianapolis
Motor Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway, but even those two great racing
venues pause to remember those that gave their lives so that we are free to
gather together for a race whenever we choose.
It has been said that a man does not know freedom until he has tasted
slavery. Be thankful you never had to pay that price… someone else paid it for
you.
The forty-plus years of hearing
the rich, mellow voice of Jim Nabors at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway came to
an end a couple of years ago. This year, for the 101st running of the Indy 500,
“Back Home Again in Indiana” will be intoned by Jim Cornelison,
the wonderful Anthem singer for the Chicago Black Hawks. It is said that
nothing on this earth is forever. Jim Nabors will always sing it in the memory
of this aging fan, but after a couple of not-so-great attempts to replace him,
I think that Indy has found a very worthy substitute. The singing of that song,
followed by the haunting sound of a single bugle blowing "Taps" quite
literally makes the hair on my arms stand up as I shiver. It is such a stirring way to announce that it
is almost time for the race to begin… right after we remember those that made
the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. I hope that never changes.
And then, too often, the good
folks at Indianapolis go and ruin the mood in the same manner we've become all
too accustomed to in NASCAR. They go out and secure the services of some
"Widely Acclaimed Star" or "Singing Sensation" to
"perform" our National Anthem.
The Star Spangled Banner (or is that The Star Mangled Banner?) does not need to be “performed!” As the
National Anthem of these United States of America, it needs to be offered with
the honor and dignity that it deserves.
It is a strong tune; not quite a
march, but its tempo is quick. It is not a torch song, and requires no
caressing of the microphone or facial grimaces. It already has words and it
already has a melody. There is no need to change either. One other thing it is not,
is a vocal exercise. No one cares what notes a singer can reach, if they are not part of the actual tune… as
written. (At least, they shouldn't) The key word here… all too often entirely lacking… is R-E-S-P-E-C-T!
Because Jim Nabors won't be with
us anymore, let’s instead listen to his wonderful offering of our National
Anthem at NASCAR’s inaugural Brickyard 400 in 1994. As an added bonus, the
voice you hear introducing Jim Nabors is that of the incomparable “Voice of the
Speedway”, Mr. Tom Carnegie. Life was good in 1994… and so many more good folks
were still living it…
Until someone comes along to
offer something better, this recording will stand as our standard of
excellence. Please enjoy hearing our National Anthem as it can sound when done
right.
And now, perhaps with Jim's powerful voice as a
background, I'd like to share with you all a story that was sent to me many years
ago by one of my readers, knowing of my love for our flag and my campaign to
gain proper respect for our National Anthem. There used to be a link that
allowed one to listen to the radio presentation, but it has long since been
erased from the archives of WHO radio in Iowa. That's a pity, because it was
done in a very gripping way by someone that could really hold your attention as
he spun the tale. It tells a story that will chill you to the bone, but it
teaches well why America is free, and the price that was paid, from the beginning,
so that she might remain that way.
Today, as we approach Memorial Day, 2017, may God bless all branches of our
Military, and may He hold evermore in His loving hands all those that have made
the supreme sacrifice for that most noble cause.
The Story
behind the National Anthem
By an unknown speaker, as heard on Jan Mickelson's show on WHO Radio
There was a lawyer once. His name was Francis Scott Key. He penned a song that
I'm sure you're aware of. You've seen it; it's in most hymnals throughout our
churches. It's called the National Anthem. It is our song as an American.
We go, however, to a ballgame; we stand in our church services and we sing the
words to that song and they float over our minds and our lips and we don't even
realize what we're singing. Most of us have memorized it as a child. But we've
never really thought about what it means. Let me tell you a story.
Francis Scott Key was a lawyer in Baltimore. The colonies were engaged in
vicious conflict with the mother country, Britain. Because of this conflict
(and the protractiveness of it), they had accumulated
prisoners on both sides. The American colonies had prisoners and the British
had prisoners. And the American Government initiated a move. They went to the
British and said let us negotiate for the release of these prisoners. They
said, "We want to send a man out to discuss this with you." They were
holding the American prisoners in boats about a thousand yards offshore. And
they said, "We want to send a man by the name of Francis Scott Key. He
will come out and negotiate to see if we can make a mutual exchange."
On the appointed day, in a rowboat, he went out to this boat and he negotiated
with the British Officials. And they reached a conclusion that men could be
exchanged on a one-for-one basis.
Francis Scott Key, Jubilant with the fact that he'd been successful, went down
below in the boats and what he'd found was a cargo hold full of humanity. Men.
And he said, "Men, I've got news for you tonight, you're free!" He
said, "Tonight I have negotiated successfully your return to the
colonies." He said, "You'll be taken out of this boat, out of this
filth, out of your chains."
As he went back up on board to arrange for their passage to the shore, the
admiral came and he said, "We have a slight problem." He said,
"We will still honor our commitment to release these men, but it'll be
merely academic after tonight. It won't matter."
Francis Scott Key said, "What do you mean?"
He said, "Well Mr. Key, tonight, we have laid an ultimatum upon the
colonies. Your people will either capitulate and lay
down the colors of that flag that you think so much of, or… you see that fort
right over there… Fort McHenry?" He said, "We're going to remove it
from the face of the earth."
[Key] said, "How are you going to do that?" [The admiral] said,
"If you will, scan the horizon of the sea." As [Key] looked, he could
see hundreds of little dots. And [The admiral] said, "That's the entire
British war fleet." He said, "All of the gun power; all of the
armament is being called upon to demolish that fort. [The fleet] will be here
within striking distance in a matter of about two and a half hours." He
said, "The war is over; these men would be free anyway."
[Key] said, "You can't shell that fort!" He said, "That's a
large fort." He said, "It's full of women and children." He
said, "It's predominantly not a military fort."
[The Admiral] said, "Don't worry about it. They said we've left them a
'way out'"
[Key] said, "What's that?"
[The Admiral] said, "Do you see that flag way up there on the
rampart?" He said, "We have told them that if they will lower that
flag, the shelling will stop immediately… and we'll know that they've
surrendered… and you'll now be under British rule."
Francis Scott Key went down below and told the men what was about to happen.
And they said, "How many ships?", and he said, "Hundreds."
The ships got closer. Francis Scott Key went back up on top and he said,
"Men, I'll shout down to you what's going on as we watch."
As twilight began to fall and as the haze hung over the oceans as it does at
sunset, suddenly the British war fleet unleashed.
Bam!
He said, "The sounds were deafening." He said, "There were so
many guns; there were no reliefs." He said, "It was absolutely
impossible to talk or hear." He said, "Suddenly, the sky, although
dark, was suddenly lit." And he says from down below, all he could hear,
the men, the prisoners saying was, "Tell us where the flag is. What have
they done with the flag? Is the flag still flying over the rampart? Tell
us!"
One hour. Two hours. Three hours into the shelling. Every time the bomb would
explode and it would be close to the flag, they could see the flag in the
illuminated red glare of that bomb, and Francis Scott Key would report down to
the men below, "It's still up! It's not down!"
The admiral came, and he said, "Your people are insane." He said,
"What's the matter with them?" He said, "Don't they understand
this is an impossible situation?"
Francis Scott Key said he remembered what George Washington had
said. He
said, "The thing that sets the American Christian apart from all other
people in the world is he will die on his feet before he'll live on his
knees."
The Admiral said, "We have now instructed all of the guns to focus on the
rampart to take that flag down." He said, "We don't understand
something. Our reconnaissance tells us that that flag has been hit directly…
again… and again… and again, and yet it's still flying. We don't understand
that." "But", he said; "now we're about to bring every gun,
for the next three hours, to bear on that point."
Francis Scott Key said the barrage was unmerciful. All that he could hear… was
the men down below… praying. The prayer: "God keep that flag flying… where
we last saw it."
Sunrise came. [Key] said there was a heavy mist hanging over the land, but the
rampart was tall enough… there stood the flag… completely nondescript… in
shreds. The flagpole itself was at a crazy angle. But the flag was still at the
top. Francis Scott Key (went aboard and) immediately went into Fort McHenry to
see what had happened. And what he'd found had happened was that that flagpole
and that flag had suffered repetitious direct hits… and when it had fallen…
that men, fathers… who knew what it meant for that flag to be on the ground… although
knowing that all of the British guns were trained on it, walked over and held
it up… humanly… until they died. Their bodies were removed and others took
their place. Francis Scott Key said what held that flagpole in place at that
unusual angle… were patriots' bodies.
He penned the song:
"Oh
say, can you see… by the dawn's early light… what so proudly we hailed… at the
twilight's last gleaming… for the rocket's red glare… the bombs bursting in
air… gave proof through the night… that the flag was still there! Oh say, does
that star spangled banner yet (fly and) wave… for the land of the free… and the
home of the brave."
The debt was demanded. The price… it was paid.
Complete lyrics to The Star Spangled Banner
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?
On the shore, dimly seen through 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.
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 wiped 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 victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power 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!
The actual flag flown over Fort McHenry.
30 by 42 feet and costing $405.90 ($5,440.21 in
2007).
The flag was made from 400 yards of wool bunting.
The 15 stars each measured two feet from point to point.
The Flag is currently housed in the National Museum of American
History.
Well gentle readers, that is the story, as I heard it
told many years ago, and I wanted you to read it just that way. It is a
compelling, gripping and most importantly, true story of how our National
Anthem came to be. The gentleman on the Jan Mickelson show presented it ever so
much better than did Sister Rose Margaret, my fourth grade teacher, but then,
he probably didn't have some 45 nine-year olds to control while telling it. She
handled that part well. And now it's time to present you with something I found
a few years back on YouTube. It gives no credit or hint as to who the narrator
might be, but I believe that after so long a time, I have actually unearthed
the version heard all those years ago. The person compiling the video
accompaniment has done a very commendable job. I would urge you to view it
twice. Once while watching his videos and once while reading along with the
words I've typed above. The video is a nice accompaniment, but following the
words alone, and hearing the voice of that narrator speak them as you read
them, gives truly a most gripping effect. My fondest hope is that after
reading… and hearing this story, you will pass it on to your friends, and more
importantly, your children. This isn't some video game or a fairy tale gentle
readers. It's real; it is fact, and it is heart-rending. If everyone knew the
story that lies behind our Anthem, I'm confident we would see more respect and
love afforded to that oh-so-difficult to sing piece of music.
I found it disappointing that at the end of this
wonderful presentation, the author chose to feature Whitney Houston in closing.
Personally, I would mute her and put Jim Nabors in the background for a much
better effect… but that's just me. Whatever you do, please don’t skip this
video!
This weekend, our National Anthem will be presented at
Indianapolis Motor Speedway by Bebe Rexha, a young lady about whom I know nothing beyond the
fact that she performs with electronic music. No further comment at this time,
except to say that Darius Rucker was pretty good last year.
A few hours later, at Charlotte, we’ll hear it done
again this year by the 82nd Airborne Chorus, and yes, we are
noticing more NASCAR tracks going to the military for the Anthem. That, gentle
readers, can only be seen as a good thing. Someone out there is listening!
Time now for our Classic Country Closeout, and as
always, there is a Country Music Song for any occasion. What could be more
fitting, as we celebrate Memorial Day, or Decoration Day as it was called when
I was much younger… a day set aside to honor our war dead and decorate their
graves, than to hear The Man in Black, Johnny Cash, tell the tale of that
"Ragged Old Flag?”
Please keep in mind that Memorial Day is a special day
set aside to remember and honor our war dead. It is not Veterans Day, though I
firmly believe that every day is Veterans Day and it’s always the right time to
“Thank a Vet today!” It’s not about hot dogs, barbeque, potato salad, cold
beer, or racing, though there will be much of all those things across our great
land this Sunday and Monday. Please, get it right. Take a few moments to send
up a prayer in remembrance of those that made the supreme sacrifice. They did
so for us… you and me.
Gentle readers, in previous editions of this piece,
this closing video has been the incomparable Kate Smith’s offering of “God
Bless America”, but today I have replaced Kate with someone and
something more contemporary and that addresses even better the sentiment of
this particular Day of Remembrance. This is Tim McGraw singing one of the most
heart-rending and tear inducing songs these old ears have ever heard… “If You’re Reading This.”
Be well gentle readers, and remember to keep smiling.
It looks so good on you!
~PattyKay 