There’s nothing quite as rousing as the National Anthem, I think many of our readers will agree to that sentiment.
Of course, arguably the best thing about the tune is that it can be played and performed in so many different ways. Artists often endeavor to put their own spin on it when giving a rendition before a sporting event, and deciding which ‘version’ suits the lyrics and tone best is a job for bolder men than I. That said, I know the difference between an offering of the song that does it justice and one that does not.
And trust me when I tell you that the performance behind the article you’re currently reading sits firmly in the first category… If you’ve never heard of “Harmonica Pete”, then I can suggest searching his name on YouTube. Born Peter B. DuPré, he was stationed in England as a medic for the United States Army during the course of World War II. Today, all those many decades later, he’s a 96-year-old who made a stir on social media due to an absolutely stunning rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner. Back in 2019, Pete was given the honor of being asked to perform the US National Anthem before a Memorial Day weekend soccer match between the US and Mexico women’s teams. WWII Peter donned a US soccer shirt for the occasion, as well as a “World War II Veteran” hat decorated by pins and medals.
