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my grade school music teacher gathered the entire enrollment for the city of grades four through eight every year at the high school gym for "Spring Sing". The entire program was impressive and my best guess is that 98% of the kids enjoyed it to some degree. It was attended mostly by parents or anyone who enjoyed music....and the product was generally pretty impressive.

The program always led off with the National Anthem. I will never forget virtually every year she would halt the entire group of around 800 kids during the first rehearsal and tell us... in no uncertain terms... that the word "banner" was to be sung in 3 notes, not four. To do otherwise was disrespectful to the flag, the song, and our country.

Since the first admonishing from Pat McNeese, I listen closely when our National Anthem is sung, always disappointed when it is botched, mostly by pop singers, never by choirs and school ensembles. Mr. Cornelison did a wonderful job with his elitely gifted voice and sang the song as it was intended....a respectful tip of my cap to him.