MARCH 3rd - Thank Our Lucky Stars



On this day in 1931, President Herbert Hoover officially made “The Star-Spangled Banner” the national anthem of the United States of America by signing it into law. The song was penned by Francis Scott Key after seeing the American flag survive a massive British bombing at Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. I’m sure that all national anthems produce a swelling of pride in a country’s citizens, but the words of Key’s song certainly embody the spirit of what America should be. So much so, that even one Thomas Jefferson was impressed by the song. Of course he did say that maybe Key should have found a way to get off the damn Limey ship where he being held captive and gone to help his brother-in-arms at Ft. McHenry instead of writing such a beautiful song. But who is to say if TJ would even have been impressed with such a feat. I think most can agree that the song is a great one. And even if it’s not your cup of joe, think of all the memorable moments it has afforded over the years. Jimi’s guitar crying it out, Marvin Gaye killing it, or Whitney crushing it. Roseanne Barr butchering it or Christina Aguilera screwing up the words. The ‘68 Black Power Salute. Or Mo Cheeks helping 13-year-old Natalie Grant remember the words when nerves got the best of her. Moments that have made us cry, laugh, or cringe, giving us the spectrum of emotions, all from a song extolling the virtues that allow the freedom to express the feelings it instills in us. This is the land of the free and the home of the brave. So let us thank our lucky stars that the best-named President (seriously--Herbie Hoover, that’s just brilliant) signed the congressional act. If he had not, the only possible saving grace would if Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A” had taken up the mantle, and we all got to see his leather American Flag jacket at every sporting event. I love me some Lee Greenwood, and that jacket is all 'Merica!

This day has been Marked.

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