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Celebrating the 80th Anniversary of Our National Anthem: Do You Know the Lyrics?

The national anthem is 80 years old today, but how much do you know about our country's most famous song?

Christina Aguilera recently flubbed the words and Roseanne Barr's rendition will probably go down in history as the worst ever, but how well do you know the Star Spangled Banner?

Most people know the basics of our national anthem's history: Lawyer and occasional poet Francis Scott Key created the anthem in 1814. However, the Star Spangled Banner wasn't recognized as our nation's official song until Congress adopted a resolution in 1931. 

To celebrate the anniversary, we've uploaded some YouTube videos of the most lauded—and infamous—renditions of the Star Spangled Banner. We also hit the streets to see how well Westchester residents know the anthem.

Since it's only fair that our readers take part, we've also included some trivia questions to test how much you know about the Star Spangled Banner.

Here are the questions:

1. The Star Spangled Banner Flag was the inspiration for Francis Scott Key's poem. How many stars and stripes are on this flag?

2. What is the name of the Francis Scott Key poem that was used as the basis for our national anthem?

3. Before the Star Spangled Banner, several other songs were used to salute our country. Can you name at least one of them?

4. Where was the first public performance of our national anthem?

Feel free to post your answers in the comments section below.

Conservative NYer March 4, 2011 at 11:57 am
1. It has 13 strips representing the original 13 colonies and 50 stars that represent the 50 states in our Union
2. "Defense of Fort McHenry. It was written during the war of 1812. 3. My Country Tis of Thee and Hail Columbia 4. Jose Feliciano The most important is what the colors represent which was left out: Red: Red stands for courage. Many men and women have had the courage to stand up and fight for our country. They have defended our country against our enemies and many have died in the service of our country. White: White stands for purity & innoncence. Purity means to do what is right. We hope and pray that our country will always stand for what is right. Blue: Blue stands for justice. When we pledge allegiance to the flag, we end with the words: "With liberty and justice for all." That means that in our country, everyone should be treated fairly and with respect.
Satta Sarmah (Editor) March 4, 2011 at 12:32 pm
Hi Conservative NYer,
You're so close! You got half the questions correct—questions # 2 and 3, to be exact. Thanks for also sharing what the colors on the flag represent.
Conservative NYer March 4, 2011 at 01:48 pm
So I am wrong on question #1? Are you talking about our "present flag" because if you are there are 13 stripes and 50 stars? But as I read the question over again it states "on this flag" hmmm so I can only assume you're talking about our flag during those times, 1812?
If that is the case then it would be a total number of stars to 15 and a total of 15 stripes. This was the only U.S. flag to have fifteen stripes. In 1818, Congress proclaimed that one star for each new state would be added on the 4th of July following the state's admission to the union and there would be thirteen stripes representing the thirteen original colonies. The 15 star flag flew over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 and inspired the writing of the National Anthem, The Star Spangled Banner. 4. What's the correct answer to 4? I am stumped.
Satta Sarmah (Editor) March 4, 2011 at 03:16 pm
Can't tell you the answer to #4 since other readers may know what it is.
Your first answer to #1 was incorrect, but you're now right. The Star Spangled Banner Flag has 15 stars and stripes.
John Tirella March 4, 2011 at 03:27 pm
october 1814 at Captain McCauley's Tavern. 15 stars and stipes is correct.
Satta Sarmah (Editor) March 4, 2011 at 03:43 pm
Wow, we have some readers who are definitely history buffs.
John, you are correct. The song was first performed in a tavern, of all places :)
Marc Ferris March 4, 2011 at 03:54 pm
Hail, Columbia, good call, since it's the most obscure song to have been considered to become the anthem, yet it is the "most American." My Country Tis, of course, adopted in the 1820's or 30's, borrows the melody of the English national anthem God Save the Queen. The Banner borrows the melody of To Anacreon in Heaven, a lusty, ribald English drinking song. Hail, Columbia, an original ditty written by an American, vied with Yankee Doodle as the top patriotic song until the Banner. Then the quartet of My Country, Hail, Yankee and the Banner battled it out through the 1800's in the hearts and minds of Americans until America the Beautiful came along. Ultimately, since that melody is based on a hymn, and had less history than the Banner, it was passed over in 1931.
Audrey Booth March 4, 2011 at 07:02 pm
In answer to the question, "Do you know the words to our National Anthem?" my answer is YES because I was taught them in school and I am apalled to realize that many schools don't teach students the words to it. Are they afraid its Politically Incorrect? And they shouldn't allow anyone to sing it at public gatherings unless they can prove that they know all of the words!
Mairebee March 5, 2011 at 01:17 am
And while we're on the subject of the National Anthem, why do performers insist on adapting the original Anthem music to suit their personal preferences, albeit rock, gospel, rap, or whatever?
I wish they would sing it as it was written instead of trashing it, out of respect for the Anthem as well as our Country, saving their varied singing styles to their own performances. There, I finally got this off my chest!!!
Russell Woodyear March 5, 2011 at 02:05 am
An interesting piece of Presidential trivia related to Francis Scott key, the author of 'The Star-Spangled Banner.' In 1835, Key served as the prosecuting attorney for the trial of the first Presidential attempted assassination. A house painter by the name of Richard Lawrence fancied himself to be related to British royalty and considered incumbent President Andrew Jackson as the illegitimate heir to the British throne. After attending a funeral for a congressman, President Jackson left the US Capitol and was confronted by Lawrence. He drew two pistols on the president. Miraculously, and without explanation, both guns misfired.
Lawrence was judged guilty by reason of insanity and was committed to a mental asylum.
zoozli March 14, 2011 at 12:18 pm
like :-)

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Colleen R. Brathwaite June 12, 2013 at 12:23 pm
I'm glad to see someone else put on paper some of the reaction I have had to being required to pay aRead More fee to park at WestMed. I think the fee is unconscionable! I was even more insulted when I received a tone-deaf response to my complaint about the fee from the head of WestMed. I understand that WestMed ended up paying considerably more for the parking facility than anticipated, but that's no justification for charging clients who have no choice but to park there in order to receive vital services. It's a gross insult to the patients. It's not our fault that WestMed had to cough up more dough. With new WestMed locations being opened every few months, clearly the company is not hurting financially. And, what's most ridiculous, is that they hired a staff of four or five parking attendants to issue tickets and instruct us how to pay for the parking! Why not use their salaries to help defray the facility's cost? You're right that it's pure greed because WestMed could have chosen to recoup the cost more slowly and not charge a fee. When I expressed my displeasure about the fee to my doctor, he posed an interesting question: when the facility's cost is paid off, will WestMed continue to charge for parking? By this time, WestMed has certainly recouped enough of the cost to make a dent in the overall expense. It's time to get rid of the fee and restore some dignity to what used to be a fine organization. In the past I heartily recommended family, friends and many others to WestMed. Now, I've got a very nasty taste in my mouth about WestMed! Shame on you, WestMed!
Clifford Blau June 15, 2013 at 09:48 am
It's not true that parking is required. You could do as I do and walk there (assuming it isRead More actually the White Plains office you are referring to and not Harrison), or take a bus, or a taxi, or have someone drop you off and pick you up. And if you aren't happy with their service, go somewhere else. There are lots of doctors not affiliated with Westmed.
Cathy G June 15, 2013 at 04:41 pm
Clifford, thanks for your two cents! How lucky for you that you can walk to your doctor's office andRead More not have to pay to park!