The New National Anthem?

When did "God Bless America" become our new national anthem?

I was at the ball park yesterday and at the beginning of the seventh inning stretch, we were asked to rise for the singing of "God Bless America". Unbidden, men removed their hats and a majority of people placed their hands over their hearts.

"God Bless America" was written by Irving Berlin in 1918. He was serving in the U.S. Army during World War I at Camp Upton in Yaphank, New York. He wrote a revue to be performed in the camp called, "Yip Yip Yaphank", and "God Bless America" was to be the finale. The stories vary here. Some sources say that the camp authorities rejected it as too jingoistic, and others say that Berlin felt that its solemn tone conflicted with the comic spirit of the rest of the show. In any case, it was put away for twenty years.

On the eve of World War II, asked to write a patriotic song for Kate Smith, Berlin pulled out the song and rewrote some of the words. It was first performed on Smith's national radio show on Armistice Day, November 11, 1938. It was an immediate sensation. For a time, Smith held the exclusive rights to perform the song, and even after that option ended, her name and "God Bless America" were inextricably linked. The song received new life after the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001, and was memorably recorded by singer Celine Dion. It has been less memorably rendered by many, many others.

Okay, I admit that "God Bless America" is a great song. It was almost named the national anthem before Kate Smith addressed Congress and begged them not to get rid of "The Star-Spangled Banner", which was written during a battle in the war of 1812. Of course, Kate Smith is one of the twelve people since 1812 who could actually sing "The Star-Spangled Banner". Her rendition of our real national anthem is the B side of her single of "God Bless America".

But why are people rising and removing their headgear and putting their hands over their hearts? First of all, a person is only supposed to place their hand on their heart to pledge allegiance, not to sing the national anthem, or any other song. Anyone at school assembly at P.S 156, Queens, New York who didn't know that would have been laughed out of the auditorium. Secondly, almost doesn't count (I learned that at P.S. 156 too). We can only have one national anthem, and "God Bless America" isn't it, and shouldn't receive the respect that is due only to "The Star-Spangled Banner".

On the eve of this Independence Day weekend, I have a number of other gripes about patriotic decorum. I could go on for quite a while about the mistakes people make in displaying the American flag. I suggest that we have a national school assembly to refresh our memories for the right way to perform these patriotic acts. Attendance will be mandatory, but middie blouses and pleated navy skirts are optional.