Francis Scott Key would be impressed with Fort Madison

There are some people in this community that are legitimate National Anthem singers. Heather Fuger has a great key for Key. Ann and Alan Chapman have some pipes and Matt Morris may very well be Fort Madison’s crooner, but I’ve heard two national anthems this week that had me smiling.
And I like to smile.
Friday night I was reminded that, although Fort Madison may not always come out on top in the gyms or on the fields of Fort Madison High School, those kids always come out on top when it comes to singing the National Anthem.
It's loud, it proud, and it’s full of energy. I’m not sure when this happened and I don’t remember it so much when I first started Pen City Current in 2016, but now I look forward to it. I was reminded Thursday night at the Central Lee/FMHS volleyball game in the district's brand new (and very well lit, I might add) gymnasium.
The lighting isn’t as small of a deal as you may think. The last three Athletic Directors got an earful on first contact with them about the poor lighting in the gym. I can’t get away from grainy photos unless I drop another five Gs on a camera upgrade.
Standing waiting for the National Anthem, I forgot about how boisterous the student section gets with this. And it’s fantastic. I smiled and chuckled as they belted it out in the gym and then again Friday night.
I was standing near Superintendent Dr. Erin Slater as these students, all decked out in black, bellowed out that corny and difficult Frances Scott Key poem put to music. At the end I looked at her after some of the kids got randy with the final few notes, and laughed.
“You gotta say, they are the best in the conference, no matter what it sounds like.”
Slater smiled and applauded the kids. It’s a tradition that must be continued, and even louder. Our visitors should hear and respect that.
Then on Saturday, I heard another one that almost brought me to tears. Very few things do that anymore, but when Craig Kelly got down on a knee inside the Tri-State Rodeo arena and was surrounded by a group of special kids and adults, it was heartwarming.
Those people were awaiting their own rodeo, but they were also excited to sing with Kelly and they did. Kelly, who’s in his 23rd year calling the Special Kids Rodeo that kicks off Rodeo Week in Fort Madison, told the crowd it was his least favorite thing to do, but wouldn’t give it up for anything. You sure couldn’t tell it was his least favorite thing to do.
The applause for these kids and adults, who would later ride horses, and mock broncs, and chase goats, was also loud and proud, as it should be.
I don’t sing. Man, I can’t sing. I’m alone in the house now, and I play Alexa loud so if I do try to sing getting ready in the morning, the speaker drowns it out so I can’t even hear it. You do not want to be around that.
I think that’s why God sprinkled me with some skills on a keyboard, so I wouldn’t try to make a living holding tune. Thank you for that.
These people around Kelly leaned into the microphone, not away from it. And they weren’t afraid to hit the high notes. They nailed it, even though they didn’t. I smiled again and applauded. Journalists don’t applaud very much for some old school rule that it compromises objectivity. Well I guess I could see if the Canadians came in for the rodeo I might have to hold back. Nah, I’m not holding back.
The Fort Madison student section deserves healthy applause and those special people and Kelly deserve even more.
What a site, What a morning, What an event! Thanks, kids, and Thank You, Craig!
Speaking of special events, I was walking away from the Bloodhounds' 35-7 loss to Burlington on Friday night after everything had settled down and I watched Tateum Schelich walk over to a Burlington player and embrace him and the two walked off the field with their arms around each other. I know Derek Doherty is taking that loss hard, but that’s culture and respect, and there’s not much better than that either – but that’s Beside the Point.
Chuck Vandenberg is editor and co-owner of Pen City Current and can be reached at Charles.V@PenCityCurrent.com.