Remember When

Patriotic tunes rouse spirits of Americans

By Cookie Curci

As a very little girl, I'd root myself in the warmth and coziness of Grandma's ample bosom, while the strains of a scratchy 1905 recording of John Philip Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever" resounded from her living room Victrola.

Grandma loved the American flag and all that it stood for, and she was proud of her American citizenship. Sousa's patriotic song, written in 1897, helped Grandma to express these feelings when mere words couldn't.

"You're a Grand Old Flag" was another of Grandma's favorite songs and one that helped America through those dark years of World War II. The immortal George M. Cohan wrote that patriotic tune in 1906.

During World War II, it was patriotic songs that helped to keep the home fires burning. Jukeboxes and radios across the land played inspirational and rousing tunes such as "America the Beautiful," "When the Lights Go On Again All Over the World" and Cohan's "Over There," written originally for the doughboys of World War I.

But it was Kate Smith who sang one of America's best-loved patriotic tunes. On Nov. 12, 1938, the song "God Bless America," written by Irving Berlin, made its musical debut. The ever-popular Smith lifted the spirits of American radio listeners a notch higher when she belted out the unforgettable song for the very first time.

Berlin had originally written the tune in 1918 for a Broadway musical, but the song was thought to be weak and was dropped from the show and never used. Berlin suggested that his friend Smith sing his song on her radio program, and the rest, as they say, is musical history.

With its simple sentiment and solid foursquare rhythm, "God Bless America" was tailor-made for America's homespun entertainer. Smith, like the many songs she performed, was a symbol of American wholesomeness.

It seems every generation has its patriotic songs or those that make a profound statement. In the 1960s it was "We Shall Overcome" and "The Ballad of the Green Berets." In the 1970s, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and Don McClean's "American Pie" spoke for the younger generation.

We Americans have been blessed with a preponderance of these patriotic tunes, inspirational anthems and marching songs that personify American gusto and grace--songs that inspire us to unite in a common purpose, whether it be cheering for Barry Bonds and the hometown team or inspiring patriotism in times of crisis.

America's national anthem was composed during a battle with the British. During the War of 1812, British troops marched on Washington, D.C., and burned down the White House. Then, with their sights set on Baltimore, the British sailed up Chesapeake Bay, taking with them a prisoner, Dr. William Beans. The following day, Francis Scott Key, a prominent Washington lawyer, was sent to the British fleet, anchored off Fort McHenry near Baltimore, to arrange the release of the American physician.

On the night of Sept. 13, 1814, while Key was detained on the British ships, British troops attacked Fort McHenry. According to tradition, Key watched the raging battle all night long. Early that dawn, when the hail of rockets finally ended, he saw that the American flag was still waving over Fort McHenry. He was so moved by the sight that he quickly scrawled out a poem to express his feelings. His poem later became "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Surprisingly, it wasn't until 1931 that the song became America's official national anthem. It was voted down in 1929 because it had a British melody. And more to the point, it made a poor marching song.

The song most identified with the American military was Cohan's wartime hit "Over There." In 1917, after America had declared war on Germany, the famous playwright wrote a stirring letter pledging his support to President Woodrow Wilson. Wilson so loved his words, he replied with a request: "If you will put your words to music, it would greatly inspire our nation's morale."

Cohan did just that, and his song unified a nation. The lyrics held the promise that the Yanks were coming to put an end to suffering in Europe. His words, "We won't come home 'til it's over, over there," created an impassioned military fervor. In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave him a congressional citation for inspiring a nation.

Those of us who grew up in the 1940s shared the unique joy of hearing our music mixed with patriotism. Patriotic tunes weren't just something we heard at the ballgame or holiday event. It was a daily occurrence and it just came naturally to the younger generation to sing patriotic and military tunes. I guess that explains why I know the words to so many of our country's patriotic songs.

As War World II drew to a close, photos were sent back to the states from the war front and America saw inspirational scenes of American soldiers reaching the top of Mount Suribachi on the southern tip of Iwo Jima. We saw them raise "Old Glory" after four days of bitter fighting. The conquest of the heavily fortified mountain fell to the men of the 28th Regiment of the 5th Marine Division.

On Sept. 11, New York firefighters, police officers and national guardsmen, like the soldiers who raised the flag on Iwo Jima, also raised "Old Glory" over the sight of the fallen World Trade Center towers.

It is a different kind of war and battlefield they fight on now, but one just as important to surmount. Today, just as it did some 57 years ago, the Stars and Stripes inspires, unifies and gives hope to Americans. And, just as in the war-torn 1940s, a resurgence of patriotic songs has taken place across America.

It doesn't really matter who's singing the songs, be it the hearty, homespun Smith, the sinewy Canadian Celine Dion, or scratchy voiced Lee Greenwood, the effect is still the same. It may sound corny, but it would be a lie to say I don't feel chills whenever I hear them sing "God Bless America" or whenever I stand at the ballpark to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner."

It's this same unified feeling that draws Americans together. It comes from the core of the people and it has the power to draw them together.

Once again, in these troubled days, the patriotic song is helping to raise America's spirits. One of the most popular of these songs is Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA." The lyrics speak for a nation: "I'm proud to be an American / where at least I know I'm free, / And I won't forget the men who died / who gave that right to me, / And I'll gladly stand up next to you / and defend her still today, / 'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land: / God Bless the USA."

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Cookie Curci can be contacted at cookiecurci@mymailstation.com.

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