Francis Scott Key wrote the national anthem “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the War of 1812, and this year is the bicentennial of that war. What words in the song have the most emotional effect on you?

Lt. Col. Rene Chadwell
Commander 15th Medical Operations Squadron

“For me, the most emotional words of the national anthem are in the closing phrase ‘Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?’ Those words sung in the presence of the waving flag make my heart swell with pride, pride with having had the opportunity to serve alongside so many brave men and women, pride with having served a higher calling, and pride with being a citizen of this great nation.”

LS2 Hilda Hayes
Naval Supply Center

“‘Oh long may it wave, O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!’ Serving active duty in the military, whenever I have been on deployments and heard that line, it just touches me.”

Senior Master Sgt.
Adrian Bandhu
HQ PACAF

“For me, the words ‘land of the free’ has the most emotional effect because of the freedom that we enjoy as a nation/society. In the world today, many other countries and sovereign nations do not enjoy such freedom.”

Michelle Agoo
Associate, Navy Exchange Pearl Harbor

“‘What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming…’ Because no matter what, America always comes back.”

Seaman Apprentice
Daniel Tanner
Naval Health Clinic Hawaii

“I like ‘Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.’ It reminds me that the flag will always be there, and it isn’t going away.”

John Tucker
USAF Retired

“The most important line to me is ‘In God is our trust,’ because I am a true believer in God and a true Christian.”

(Provided by Brandon Bosworth and David Underwood Jr.) )

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