Today's 202nd anniversary of America's national anthem may have passed without much fanfare, except that some professional athletes have begun using the singing of the Star Spangled Banner before each game to protest racial injustice. WBFO talked with Western New York's most recognizable anthem singer for his perspective on the issue.
"Would you all please stand for the singing of the American national anthem."
And with that, Doug Allen begins to sing a cappella, "Oh say can you see...."
It was September 14, 1814 when Francis Scott Key witnessed by dawn's early light that the American flag was still there, flying over Baltimore's Fort McHenry. Admidst bombs bursting in air near the end of the War of 1812, the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet was inspired to pen what later would become America's national anthem.
What that anthem means changes depending upon the individual. To Anthem Guy Doug Allen, well known to Buffalo Sabres fans, it is a remembrance of history.
"As a singer, it speaks to me of their sacrifices. It speaks to me of their resolve. It speaks to me of their resolve to remain a free nation," Allen said, who holds a master's degree in Music Theater.
He learns the history of each song he sings.
"You know, the terms of surrender were very simple: take the flag down off the pole," he said. "And that is exactly why the fort commander of the time put up this big flag that everybody could see from miles away, because he was making the statement, 'We are not going to give in to you.'"
Perhaps that is the message athletes want to send when they take a knee or remain seated during singing of the anthem on national television.
Allen said he has not walked in anyone else's shoes and he respects freedom of expression, but the West Seneca resident and City Mission employee does believe there are better ways to protest injustice.
"The anthem for me represents a time in our history when our military stood up under terrible odds and with great courage won a battle that they should not have won," said Allen. "They should have easily folded and given up, but they didn't, and we are here today and have an anthem that reminds us of that."
How would Allen feel if someone did not stand while he was singing the anthem at a Sabres game or elsewhere?
"That's why we live in America. That's why those soldiers died in that battle. So you'd have the right to speak your mind and speak what you feel." The Anthem Guy said. "There's another part of me that says, 'Let's find another way to do this.' I might feel a little bit that they're souring the memory of this song and where it came from."
He suggested the media put the focus "back on the flag" during the singing of the national anthem before sports games.
"...and the land of the free," Allen sings with applause growing, "and the home of the brave."
