Memorial Day (or Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces. Here, the military and the armed forces are heavily tied to patriotism. Why is that? Is this by accident? The key is in the nation’s national anthem. In this episode we discuss the history of the Star Spangled Banner, the best performers of the poem, and whether or not it's still relevant today.