For many years of its existence as a nation the United States of America had no officially recognized national anthem although various national songs and airs attained widespread popularity. During the Revolution “Yankee Doodle” and “The World Turned Upside Down” were popular military airs and the former still survives to some extent as a national song.
In 1832 the Reverend Samuel Francis Smith, a Baptist minister of Boston, wrote the song entitled “My Country, ’Tis of Thee” and it was set to the music of the British National Anthem, “God Save the King,” and widely published in prayer books as the American National Hymn. This has led many people to believe that it was the official National anthem; however this is not the case, as it never received any official recognition as such.
During the Civil War, 1861 to 1865, there were a number of airs that reached great popularity among the soldiers and sailors of both sides, the most stirring of these airs being “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” in the North and “Dixie” in the South.
The Navy Regulations of 1890 prescribed that “The Star Spangled Banner” should be played by the bands at morning colors and “Hail, Columbia” at evening colors, thus giving an official standing to both airs.
In the Navy Regulations of 1893 and the Army Regulations of 1895 “The Star Spangled Banner” was prescribed for use at colors and came to be officially recognized as the National Air, but it was not until the President’s order of August 23, 1916, that it became the official National Anthem.
By the order of the President the honors shown to the National Anthem are prescribed in the U. S. Army Regulations as follows:
Whenever the National Anthem is played at any place when persons belonging to the military services are present, all officers and enlisted men not in formation shall stand at attention facing toward the music (except at retreat, when they shall face toward the flag). If in uniform, covered, they shall salute at the first note of the anthem, retaining the position of salute until the last note of the anthem. If not in uniform and covered, they shall uncover at the first note of the anthem, holding the headdress opposite the left shoulder and so remain until its close, except that in inclement weather the headdress may be held slightly raised.
The same rules apply when “To the Color” or “To the Standard” is sounded as when the National Anthem is played.
When played by an Army band, the National Anthem shall be played through without repetition of any part not required to be repeated to make it complete.
The same marks of respect prescribed for observance during the playing of the National Anthem of the United States shall be shown toward the National Anthem of any other country when played upon official occasions.