College Replaces Anthem with 'America the Beautiful'

Paul Steinbach Headshot

Goshen College has decided to play "America the Beautiful" before its sporting events instead of the "Star-Spangled Banner." The Mennonite Church-affiliated institution located in northern Indiana has long had an issue with the latter piece, since its depiction of glaring rockets and bursting bombs conflicts with Goshen's motto of "healing the world - peace by peace."

Before it ever gained official recognition as our country's national anthem, the "Star-Spangled Banner" became entwined in our unofficial national pastime. Inspired by the War of 1812, it was first played at baseball games during the 1918 World Series, as the United States was fighting World War I. By the end of World War II, the playing and singing of the anthem had spread to other sports, as well, and became a lasting pregame ritual. (The singing of "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch of Major League Baseball games has endured as a post-911 Sunday tradition.)

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