Can we do anything about that 3rd verse?

[tinselwolverine]

1. Why is the national anthem played before sporting events?

Whoever Brian Cain is, he cites Wikipedia in this article on his blog.

He provides a link to the Wikipedia Star Spangled Banner article that he claims to be referencing to; the Wikipedia article is much more broader and comprehensive about the history of the national anthem in its entirety.

 

[tomdalton22]

I thought it was Taps that played...but you're the one who served in the military.

At Scout camp, it was Taps that was played as the flag was lowered in a ceremony called "Retreat."

I think maybe the anthem is correlated to the military because it's a poem about a battle the military was engaged in in the early years of the country.

Yes...reveille and retreat. Reveille is in the AM and retreat in the PM. They play the Colors while raising the flag in the AM and National anthem lowering it in the PM.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4RYhnTRQRg

 

[tinselwolverine]

Yes...reveille and retreat. Reveille is in the AM and retreat in the PM. They play the Colors while raising the flag in the AM and National anthem lowering it in the PM.

So both the National Anthem and Taps are played during retreat?

 

[tomdalton22]

So both the National Anthem and Taps are played during retreat?

I think so...it's been a while. I think they play taps then they play the anthem while they take the flag down.

I haven't been on a base in a long time.

 

[Michchamp]

I think so...it's been a while. I think they play taps then they play the anthem while they take the flag down.

I haven't been on a base in a long time.

google it maybe?

 

[Michchamp]

the Simpsons had a couple good national anthem related gags.

like the one time at the start of a baseball game, the announcer says "By popular demand, we'll forego the national anthem."

or the time the head of the Springfield Communist Party was to sing the national anthem on the same night as "free tomato night" and he gets pelted with tomatoes.