However, just before the opening pitch, a color guard with the American flag (flanked by the Wisconsin flag, natch) marched out onto center field. The stadium announcer asked all present standing to rise, remove their hats, and join in the singing of the National Anthem. He also directed all members of the military present, active or retired, to render a hand salute. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought a hand salute to the flag was to be given *only* if a member of a uniformed service (military, police, firefighters, that sort of thing) and then only when in uniform. When did that change?
And secondly — how are we supposed to sing along with the National Anthem if we have no clue to how the singer is going to perform it? When the female singer delivered her rendition of the National Anthem, she added a few froo-froos during the "rockets' red glare/bombs bursting in air" section, and of course she rendered the phrase "land of the free" as "land of the free-HEE" by jumping from the note to the same note one octave above it. I will, however, credit her with jumping cleanly to it rather than 'sliding' up to it like so many others.
I contend that the National Anthem — ANY country's National Anthem — should be sung precisely as was written. Imagine the furor if some hip-hop artist turned 'La Marseillaise' into a rap, or some Tex-Mex band did a salsafied version of 'Oh Canada'! An anthem is not an appropriate song for any performer to put his or her own 'style' on it like they were remaking a version of "American Pie".
-"BB"-
